A Night of Stillness: The Esmé Quartet at the Weis Center
A quiet anticipation filled the air as the Esmé Quartet took the stage at the Weis Center. Unlike many performances that demand an introduction, their presence spoke for itself. There was no need for grand fanfare or eloquent words to prepare us for the experience that was about to unfold. The quartet, with their instruments in hand, brought with them an unspoken promise—an invitation to enter a space of profound stillness, where the noise of the world was left behind and only the music remained.
From the very first note, it was clear that this was not just a concert—it was an invitation to listen deeply, to let the music sweep through you, and to be still in the presence of its beauty. The Esmé Quartet’s performance was subtle, each movement unfolding with delicate precision. It wasn’t loud or forceful; it was quiet in a way that demanded attention. The silences between the notes were as significant as the music itself, creating a space for reflection, for surrendering to the sound, and for questioning everything in the most peaceful way.
The quartet’s synchronization was a spectacle in itself. Each musician—Wonhee Bae (violin I), Yuna Ha (violin II), Dimitri Murrath (viola), and Ye-Eun Heo (cello)—played not only with technical mastery but with a sensitivity that made their performance feel like a single entity. The energy they created together was balanced and nuanced, a perfect reflection of the care and respect they had for one another and the music. It was clear that this wasn’t simply about playing the notes; it was about creating something beyond them, something that resonated with the very core of the audience’s being.
The pieces they presented were a thoughtful blend of works by living and deceased composers. Each composition brought a unique flavor to the evening. “Spring” from Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter by Kui Dong opened the performance with a breath of freshness and renewal, capturing the essence of the season in every note. “Fall-Winter” from Infinite Season by Juri Seo followed, its quiet, reflective tone providing a contrast that highlighted the power of stillness. The string quartet in F Major by Maurice Ravel brought elegance and depth, while Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131, closed the performance with its emotional complexity and transcendent beauty.
What made this evening even more impactful was how the quartet took the time to share the reasons and meanings behind the pieces they chose to present. It wasn’t just about the beauty of the music—it was about the intent behind it. With thoughtful reflection, the musicians explained how each composition resonated with them personally and how they felt it fit within the context of the evening. The selection was not arbitrary but deeply considered. They spoke of the way “Spring” represented renewal, of how “Fall-Winter” captured the quiet beauty of change, of how Ravel’s work brought together elegance and simplicity, and of how Beethoven’s profound emotional depth was a culmination of all that came before it. Each explanation added another layer to the performance, transforming the music into a conversation between the musicians and the audience—one where meaning and emotion flowed freely between them.
What connected these pieces wasn’t just the contrasts in their sounds, but the way the quartet brought out the universality in each work. Whether from the past or the present, the music spoke to something timeless, something that stretched beyond the individual pieces themselves. The Esmé Quartet didn’t just play these works—they became the music, embodying its spirit and offering it to the audience as a shared experience.
But it wasn’t just the music that left an impact—it was the quiet grace of the quartet’s performance. There was no rush, no hurry, no need to force anything. The players seemed to exist in the moment, fully immersed in the music and in each other. The unspoken connection between them was palpable, and it made the experience feel intimate, as though we were witnessing something sacred, something deeply personal.
As the final notes of Beethoven’s quartet resonated in the air, there was a lingering silence. It wasn’t just the end of the concert—it was the quiet aftermath of a deeply moving experience. The applause that followed felt almost secondary, a mere acknowledgment of the beauty that had just unfolded. It was clear that the audience had been taken on a journey, not just of sound, but of feeling—a journey that would continue to echo in their hearts long after the music had ended.
In the end, it wasn’t surprising that the applause didn’t stop. The Esmé Quartet had given us a gift—a night of stillness, of quiet reflection, and of deep connection with the music and with each other. Their respect for the music, their fellow musicians, and the audience was felt in every note and every word they shared. It was an experience that would stay with us, a memory not just of the notes they played, but of the way they made us feel. And that, perhaps, is the true power of music—its ability to speak to the soul in ways words cannot express.
~Shaheryar Asghar, ’28