Brooklyn Rider at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater

Johnny Gandelsman, violin | Eric Jacobsen, cello | Colin Jacobsen, violin | Nicholas Cords, viola | Sarah Small photo

Thanks to the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, I was able to attend a concert last Thursday at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater as part of their Just Summer series. Although before being offered these tickets, I had never heard of Brooklyn Rider, I am so happy that I was a bit "out of the box" and headed out to hear them.

Brooklyn Rider is a pretty well known string quartet. Now, if you know me at all, you know I'm a huge music fan, but that doesn't mean I know anything about string quartets, except the absolute basics, like which instruments would be in one. But, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Brooklyn Rider quite possibly tops the charts in this area.

They were obviously well trained and talented, but they also played interesting pieces (they described each one before) and they seemed like great guys in general. They were fun to watch, which might seem strange to say but the way they were enthralled by what they were doing and how they interacted with each other during each piece was wonderful. They made it seem like playing typically classical music should be extremely entertaining.

I will mention that if you are being torn between going out one night and the urge to stay and and be alone with your thoughts, go out and see a string quartet. Or really, go see any type of music that does not involve lyrics. I was so lost in my own feelings of the music and what I was thinking that I never once was bored, what might be a "typical" reaction to a concert like this for my particular demographic. Although I admit that most of my thoughts did circle around whether or not the friend I took with me would want to go out to eat after the show, I also was choreographing a modern dance number in my head during the last song. So that's almost legit.

As for the theater, I had never been to the Kelly Strayhorn before and was overly excited to check it out. Somehow, despite being one of those theater-goers I hate who get there 2 minutes before showtime, I got a parking space right out front and was surprised to see how big the actual theater space is. Though it could use a bit of TLC, it was the perfect space for a concert like this, big enough to hold the crowd but intimate enough to make everyone feel closer to the performers. My favorite. 

So, if you see an event like this being advertised around the city, especially by the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, because I expect great things from them now, I suggest that you give it a try and check it out, even if it isn't something you would typically go to. That's one of my favorite things about Pittsburgh, there is always something new to try because there is something for every one's taste.

This is a sponsored post, I received tickets for this event, but all opinions are my own.