Last Saturday saw great excitement in the Auditorio de la Ribera at the one-night appearance of headline act, Well-Strung, en route for New York and home after sell-out appearances in Puerto Vallarta.
The level of anticipation was tangible and nearly all 465 seats were occupied, when folk of all ages descended on the Ajijic venue to see one of the fastest rising phenomena on the music scene.
Opening the event was the CREM Choir, conducted by Director Emmanuel Medeles with Manuel Medeles on piano. Among several favorites, the program included “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Siyahamba,” the South African hymn meaning “We are Marching.” It was all exceptionally good and the audience loved it.
The intermission, after only 20 minutes, increased the tension even more.
Back in our seats, a deafeningly enthusiastic reception greeted Well-Strung, the singing string quartet, comprised of first violinist Edmund Bagnell, second violinist Christopher Marchant, violist Trevor Wadleigh and cellist Daniel Shevlin.
All four are classically trained musicians and it’s obvious. Unlike conventional classical quartets, however, they dress casually and rarely sit down – including cellist Shevlin. They’re also exceptionally accomplished singers.
Well-Strung was formed by Marchant and producer/co-writer/manager Mark Cortale, and Donna Drake directs and blocks their shows. A few early arrangements were by David Levinson, but now they compose and direct the inspired pop plus classical “mash-ups” and string arrangements for pop songs themselves. They also script the dialogue.
Well-Strung made its debut on May 1, 2012 at Joe’s Pub, New York. Now signed to Sony’s Twist label, the quartet has already performed across the United States, in Mexico and London, England.
The choreography and dialogue is cleverly planned, appearing totally spontaneous as they move around the stage, sing, joke or talk to the audience. They project a guileless charm and sense of fun and on stage they don’t rest for a second.
Their extraordinary mix of classical string quartet and hot, Top 40 pop vocals, is blended together in what they call a “mash-up” and the result is extraordinary. It’s impossible to define their unique and exciting style of music, but the name of one of their early concerts “Popssical” comes closest.
Saturday’s mash-ups included Grieg’s “Quartet No. 1” with Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” performed with absolutely perfect a cappella; Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” 1st Movement with Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone,” and a remarkable combination of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro Overture” with Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling.”
Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” exquisitely sung by Bagnell, included stunning vocal harmonies from the entire group, an astounding a cappella section and some perfectly timed and executed pizzicato elements.
During the show each member introduced himself. Wadleigh’s story was about his boyhood, the difficulties of hiding who he was and bullying schoolmates. He recalled altering his mannerisms and walk, but his voice proved immutable so he remained silent. He said it was his viola that gave him his voice – “one that would always be true.”
To pin-drop silence he quoted Victor Hugo: “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent,” then played a viola solo of Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise Op. 34, No. 14,” a “song without words,” accompanied by the other three. It was breathtaking.
When “lucky rock” owner Bagnell announced he was from Georgia, the quartet launched into a rousing rendition of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” seamlessly interwoven with excerpts of Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins in D minor,” as Bagnell on first violin dueled it out with Marchant’s second.
The string versions of One Direction’s “You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful” and Kesha’s hit, “Your Love is my Drug,” were outstanding. So was their final number, a superb medley from “Frozen.”
This remarkable quartet’s distinctive combination of classical and popular music is very addictive, extremely clever and they do it brilliantly. The standing ovation, deafening applause and cheering were thoroughly deserved.
What a night! Well-Strung is one of a kind. It’s “oh wow” with a vengeance and it’s definitely going places!
For more information go to well-strung.com, Facebook and Twitter @wellstrungnyc.