ArtsBeat

Thanks to the Buffalo Chamber Music Society, Kleinhans Music Hall was one of the stops on the Guarneri String Quartet's farewell tour. Together 45 years with only one recent change of personnel, the Guarneri musicians are parting ways later this year so they can pursue individual projects. In their twilight days as a team, they are generally acknowledged as the greatest existing string quartet.

That is the great Guarneri pictured above. From left, they are: John Dalley, Michael Tree, Arnold Steinhardt, and the group's newcomer cellist, Peter Wiley.

Tuesday, they played the Mary Seaton Room. I got to hear them while sitting on the stage 10 feet away, an experience I do not think I will ever forget. Here is what I wrote about it, but really, words can't begin to describe it.

One thing that makes the Guarneri as irresistible as they are is that the musicians are so human and approachable. Ansgarius Aylward, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's associate concertmaster, participated in the pre-concert talk with them, led by WNED-FM's Peter Hall. Aylward was invited to take part because he was present at one of the Guarneri's first concerts, in 1964.

I called Aylward just now to talk about what we had heard last night, and he has a great way of describing the group. "They're so elegant and powerful. Nothing superfluous, nothing fancy. It's four guys doing a job, and there it is, it's magnificent," he said. He added: "It's wonderful to have been there at the beginning and also at the end."

Wandering backstage during intermission, which I do not normally do but I did last night, I found the Guarneri's first violinist, Arnold Steinhardt, to be very friendly and laid-back. He did not seem to mind that the group still had the Ravel Quartet left to play. He sat around and chatted. The group's legendary violist, Michael Tree, joined in.

After the concert, cellist Peter Wiley -- who, a couple of years ago, assumed the seat vacated by David Soyer -- even lingered by the stage, Buffalo style, to shake people's hands.

Because of Buffalo's prominence in the chamber music world, the Guarneri has played many times here over the years. Steinhardt even wrote in his memoir "Indivisible by Four" that he met his wife in Buffalo, at a party. Such a history this group has, and we are so lucky to have our own little piece of it. If anyone has Guarneri memories, this is the time to bring them out and share them!

Meanwhile, last night will go down as one of those memories.

What an unforgettable evening.

-- Mary Kunz Goldman