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Gil Shaham and Friends

Another great concert brought by the Shriver Hall Concert Series, voted No. 1 classical music series in Baltimore, featured violinist Gil Shaham and, among others, cellist Jian Wang, one of the only three DG-exclusive recording artists from China, in an all-Brahms chamber music program. With names like those, I wouldn't miss it for the world. (And I didn't.)

Gil Shaham's violin sounded so thick that I almost thought it was a viola when I first heard the first few notes of his recording of Bartok's Violin Concert No. 2 with Chicago Symphony under Pierre Boulez: It was confirmed live this time. Jian Wang lived up to his reputation by doing a wonderful job with his cello part in Brahms' Clarinet Quintet. His upbeat gesture and smile reminded me a friend.

By the way, the Shriver Concert Series is now free for Homewood and Peabody students. How sweet is that?
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