Los Angeles Flute Quartet: Reviews

A welcome flair for showmanship.
Right from the start, their collective sounds bloomed!"
-Los Angeles Times

" The LAFQ is wonderful"

"The LAFQ is a stunner"

"We love the CD"

"I was thrilled by the delight with which the sonority of a flute
quartet falls upon the ear...Their performance....was a revelation in
its evocative beauty and touching lyricism."
-Rene Engel, General Manager, KCSN Radio

"This ensemble is appearing at the end of the month in conjunction with Composers Inc., playing two of the pieces on its current CD, Christopher Caliendo's Chovihano and Alex Shapiro's Bioplasm. The latter's program note in the booklet is, to say no more, off-putting: "The flutists become a single organism oozing across the sonic floor, and adding their voices, they create an eight-part choir of life-seeking plasma." Be assured that the piece doesn't involve much "oozing." There is some simultaneous singing and playing, though, which the quartet handles extremely well. Among the other items on the disc: a lovely quartet of Joseph Jongen (Elegie, Op. 114), Arvo Pärt's serene Pari intervallo (played with the muted vibrato and tone of the recorder consort it was meant for), and a wickedly funny fantasy on Lalo Schifrin's theme tune to Mission: Impossible by Mark Lathan."

Four fabulous flutists that created a magical ambiance, what
more could anyone ask for?"

"It was a magical scene to hear the masterful sounds of the Quartet echo
through the grand hallways of historic Greystone Mansion...
They just had to be invited back to play the season ending concert."

" 'Quartet 'til the End of Time' provided a delightful musical program!
...they attract an intergenerational audience of both young and old
and every age in between."

"It was indeed a pleasure to hear the Los Angeles Flute Quartet...
a group of obviously fine players...perfect for this group of attendees!"

LAFQ CD, Above and Beyond “What Fun! The playing is outstanding. This well-conceived program explores many moods and styles, and holds interest from start to finish. Bach and Pärt are played with simple, quiet introspection and well-blended sounds. The most interesting piece is the closing, 'Remember Me' - it is a fascinating and thoughtful update. You should hear it for yourself."

"A brilliant and satisfying offering of original and arranged music for four flutes. The use of bass flute as percussion is not to be missed. A welcomed addition to anyone's collection of woodwind music. Especially delightful for flute aficionados.”

"From the evidence of their new CD Above and Beyond, with its commissioned works (especially Alex Shapiro's Bioplasm"), the LA Flute Quartet seems poised to become the "Kronos" of the flute!"

“I gave your CD a heart-felt listening and I have to say how very impressed I am with the sound of the ensemble. The Bach is transcendent. Alex Shapiro's work is extraordinary and the Pärt is wonderful. It's all great!”

“(LAFQ) played magnificently, and I don't say that lightly . . . technical skill was matched by a level of sensitive musicianship. They played that Mozart quartet better--with better style, phrasing, and attention to detail--than most professional string quartets would have, or could have. Los Angeles Flute Quartet deserves the greatest success for their work.”

Composers, Inc. has a history of inviting prominent ensembles from outside the area to perform at its concerts. On Tuesday evening's program the visiting Los Angeles Flute Quartet played three works, beginning with Up in the Air, written for them last year by Composers Inc.'s Jeffrey Miller. It is an attractive piece, starting with the low, tentative oscillation of major seconds, and then blossoming into rising figures and high, syncopated sonorities which develop and solidify before returning briefly to the opening mood. It provided a good introduction to the rich, mellow sound of the quartet, who returned later to play the last two works of the evening. When the L.A. Flute Quartet returned, it was with Chovihano (Gypsy Healer) by Christopher Caliendo, a work of lyrical, sweeping legato shapes in which the quartet, topped by a piccolo, seems to rise and fall on waves of sound. The music's modal underpinning brought out its sensuous gypsy flavor, enhancing the hypnotic, trance-like flow of its melodic motion. The final work was Bioplasm, by Los Angeles composer Alex Shapiro, which flirts with theatricality and runs an eclectic gamut of styles, beginning with the pseudo-ritualistic entry of the quartet onto the stage, rhythmically clicking the keys of their instruments and blowing short, sharp breaths into the finger-holes. Later, there are passages that seem to evoke a more "tropical" mood and one episode of vocalizing along with the sound of the flutes, before the quasi-Andean music of the opening returns. This piece was a particular favorite, receiving strong gusts of applause and even shouts of approval. As such, it was a well chosen finale, sending the audience home in an elated mood.

AM Last night Composers Inc. hosted its first concert of 2006 in the Green Room on the second floor of the Veterans' Building, across the street from San Francisco City Hall. SG and I went and we had a bite to eat at Delessio's beforehand, and even had the last piece of their chocolate cake with the lemon buttercream frosting, which I'm sure kept me even more alert than usual through the evening.

While not quite green (hardly any green rooms are), this Green Room is kind of turquoise. It has high ceilings, huge chandeliers, and beautiful decor. It's a great place to hear new chamber music. I'm actually used to hearing new music in more gritty surroundings with metal folding chairs instead of cushioned ones, no name tags on the presenters, no refreshments, and less reliable climate control so this was pretty upscale.

A good crowd had turned out to hear the show, which featured the Los Angeles Flute Quartet. There was six pieces on the program by living American composers. All of them were different from each other, and all of them were fairly short. They said what they had to say, and then they were finished -- my favorite quality in a piece of new music.

It was my first experience with the Los Angeles Flute Quartet and they are extremely fine players. They all switched off on flute, piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute depending on what the piece called for. They played three pieces -- "Up in the Air" by Jeffrey Miller, "Chovihano (Gypsy Healer)" by Christopher Caliendo, and "Bioplasm" by Alex Shapiro. The best piece by far of the whole night was "Bioplasm" by Alex Shapiro. I love hearing flutists other than myself play extended techniques, and I'm lucky if I hear one other person do them, but hearing FOUR people play them at once, and play them well, was a wonderful treat. Key percussion, air-timbre effects, and singing and playing were all integral to Alex's piece. I had never heard four people sing and play at the same time before, making eight-part harmony. It was really great to hear. The piece got a great audience response which was even better. It means new music's "polite society" can handle it.

"Los Angeles Flute Quartet: Excellent. How in the WORLD could anybody play bass flute like that (on the Mission Impossible theme)? Peter Sheridan, my hat is OFF to you! And what a great group!"

Don't hesitate to buy this musical treasure. This creative collection of both modern and classical compositions is rendered into beautiful, blissful sound by four flutes. It satisfies the soul, soothes the heart, and inspires the imagination. Whether working in my office, cooking in the kitchen, driving my car, or restfully relaxing, "Above and Beyond" is one of my all-time favorite CD's.

“The LAFQ has a unique sound, and interesting rep”

“Delightful CD”

“We like the LAFQ CD. I have played all of the tracks. Pick one, we've played it.”

“Thank you for sending Los Angeles Flute Quartet "Above and Beyond." We will be playing these in our Timeless Thursdays and Symphonic Sunday formats”

“I've used the Overture to the Marriage of Figaro, Chovihano, the Fantasy on Theme from Mission Impossible--which I think is completely fun--and I used the Remember Me arrangement--which is my personal favorite. I love it!”

“Spinning and having fun with Mission Impossible”

“LAFQ is good.”

"We love this CD and play several tracks weekly during Morning Edition.

“LAFQ is real good"

“They are a very unique group not just basic flute quartet playing. Sometimes a flute quartet can sound a little too homogenous...not them. Different flute sounds, very interesting recording. I like it”

“We have played LAFQ. Nice CD”

“We like LAFQ, and by the summer we will have played the whole CD”

These musicians (LAFQ) are wonderful ambassabors for the flute. Their performance, which includes an informative presentation on the flute, is entertaining and educational.