String Vision Interview with Clive Greensmith

Introduction by Ovation President Mike Buck about his very touching experience from the last concert by the Tokyo Quartet at the 2013 Norfolk Summer Festival.

On July 6^th, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Tokyo String Quartet’s final concert of their 44-year career. Held at the Yale School of Music’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, I planned the trip from my hometown of Chicago to Connecticut months in advance to make sure I had the opportunity to witness history. As is indicative of their humility and generosity, the quartet donated their fees for the evening toward fundraising efforts for renovations to be made to the festival’s Music Shed. Having been to several of their performances in the past, this one began much like the others with a bit of anticipation as to whether they would once again live up to the extraordinary expectations I had built up after seeing their previous concerts. As always, within a few short measures I was able to breathe a sigh of relief as they quickly demonstrated why I consider them to be the best string quartet I have ever seen.

The circumstances were far from typical, with the emotion of knowing this would be their final performance in addition to a stiflingly hot and humid concert hall, but the result was one of the most extraordinary performances I have attended. With a program of quartets by Haydn, Bartok and Debussy, the quartet showcased their impeccable precision, intensity and musicality. For me, their performances of Haydn quartets have always epitomized what set them apart from all other quartets, as Haydn allows them to demonstrate their immaculate intonation and ensemble, as well as their ability to execute abrupt yet seamless changes of character and color. In this concert, however, the Andantino from the Debussy String Quartet in G minor stood out for me as the most striking and gripping part of the night. As the movement reached its emotional climax I felt myself and many of those around me tearing up as the profundity of the evening and that moment struck us all. It is a concert I will never forget.

With the memory of the concert still fresh in my mind, we thought it would be interesting to check in with Clive Greensmith, who served as the cellist for the Tokyo String Quartet for 14 years, to discuss that final concert, his advice for young chamber musicians, his future plans, and much more.  Be sure to check in tomorrow for the first part of our interview!