Intimate String Quartet in the Bodega: Successful Kickoff of the Autumn Concerts

A Morning Concert That Echoes Long After

I was in the Bodega on Sunday around 11:15 a.m.; the air outside smelled of fresh coffee and olive trees. Inside, the typically intimate atmosphere we love here prevailed: few rows, candlelit dim light, quiet conversations, then silence. Exactly how the first date of the autumn series began—and it had something comforting, almost familiar.

Who Played—and How

Ariadna Ferrer (violin), Hanga Fehér (viola) and Llorenc Rosal (cello) opened with Mozart's String Quartet KV 157. It was immediately clear: the ensemble was not seeking effects, but rather ensemble playing. The movements breathed, phrases linked like well-rehearsed handshakes.

Later the young pianist Matteo Weber joined and transformed the ensemble into a piano quintet. His touch was clear, never intrusive; the powerful passages in Rachmaninoff felt as weighty as the delicate, almost whispered moments.

From Mozart to Rachmaninoff — a calm arc

The jump from Mozart's early-virtuoso KV 157 to the more opulent Rachmaninoff studies could have felt awkward. In fact it worked: the players built bridges by emphasizing melodic logic while still leaving room for feeling. Especially in the Etudes-Tableaux, Weber showed that virtuosity is not just self-serving, but a tool to shape soundscapes.

There were moments when the music became almost cinematic: dark harmonies, stormy runs, then again a restrained whisper. It was precisely these shifts that made the experience exciting — and honest.

Dvořák: Cheerfulness Without Kitsch

To finish, the ensemble impressed with Antonín Dvořák's Piano Quintet. Here earthy playing pleasure met precision. No one slipped into over-the-top folk-music clichés; instead the performance remained clearly formed, full of temperament and with a fresh pulse that reminded of village musicians without caricaturing them.

I enjoyed seeing the musicians play with a wink, while maintaining high standards. The audience responded accordingly: no ecstatic applause, rather warm, long applause — as if thanking someone who lent you a good book.

Why These Concerts Matter

Such Bodega concerts work because they create closeness. Here one experiences what you hope for in chamber music: transparency, dialogue, and that rare feeling of being directly involved in the process of creation. The organizers have shown good judgment — programming and playing level matched well.

If you're now intrigued: the next date is October 19 under the motto 'Pianobox' with pianist Maria Radutu. Ticket reservations are usually by phone or WhatsApp; a call in the early morning can’t hurt if you want to be sure of a seat.

For me, this concert remains a calm, very personal start to the season in memory. No spectacle, no exaggeration — just good music, played with feeling and understanding. That’s what I like about these small events: you step outside, the streets are still warm from the sun, and the music accompanies you to the next street corner.