All Categories
Quartetto Gelato presents the best possible kind of crossover programs. The group members are basically classical musicians, and unusually versatile ones, and they always include at least one piece of substantial music in their recordings (in this case a set of bagatelles by Dvorák, with the harmonium part played on an accordion)) along with tasty lighter material. Peter De Sotto, who plays violin and mandolin, also sings in a pretty light tenor that is just right for the Neapolitan songs he performs here. The choice of material moves a little outside the Neapolitan orbit, not only with Dvorák but also with Piazzolla and a delicious "Criminal Tango" by someone named T. Trambella. Quartetto Gelato's CDs make perfect dinner music, but they are so well performed that they also make entertaining listening programs. That's true of this new release even though the program is a little lighter than usual. Not recommended for snobs, but nearly everyone else will enjoy it thoroughly. --Leslie Gerber