Quartet makes classics accessible to all

"If Mozart was still alive, he would be proud of us," said Filip Jalar, first violinist for the Mozart Group string quartet, which will perform in Beijing on Sunday.

Known for its humorous interpretations of classical music, the group's first cabaret performance was titled Mozart's Still Alive. The musicians all come from Poland, home also to composer Frederic Chopin.

"Mozart was one of the most talented musicians and composers," Jalar said. "He inspired lots of people in different artistic and musical areas. The whole world is not just about Chopin, and Mozart's pieces can also be fun."

He said most people have no professional background in classical music and wrongly think it is aimed at royalty or the upper classes.

"You only need to give yourself a chance to listen. We hope to use comical elements to give people more confidence to embrace classical music," Jalar said. "We want to show people that all kinds of music can be fun and matter to their lives."

The group first toured China in 2013 and received a warm welcome. Its November performances will include the programs Titanic, an adaptation from the movie soundtrack, Eine Kleine World Music, adapted from Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, and the quartet's interpretation of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

All the quartet members graduated from academies of music in Warsaw and L��dz and share the goal of inspiring joy with music. The group formed in 1995 and its performances continue to be vibrant and fresh.

The quartet began performing short musical jokes on television shows, then debuted in 1997 at the PAKA competition for young Polish cabaret performers, in Krakow. The same year, it toured with Mozart's Still Alive in Europe, Canada, the United States and Asia. In 2011, the group visited 24 countries across four continents. Its unconventional approach to classical music won it recognition at the 31st European Humor Festival GAGY in Slovakia, where it was awarded the 2011 Grand Prix.

Thomas Porwol, the group's manager, said Jalar, as first violinist, always seeks attention from the audience, especially the female members. Second violinist Michal Sikorski is a talented singer and dancer. Violist Pawel Kowaluk looks more serious, but comes across as both funny and stylish, while cellist Bolek Blaszczyk easily shares his musical excellence and humor with the audience.

"During 20 years of playing several programs, such as Mozart's Still Alive, Four Strings of the World, Bach 'n' Roll, and Traveling with the Mozart Group, we chose universal songs, which can be understood and funny on all continents," Porwol said.

(China Daily 11/08/2014 page7)