6 - The Paulu Years, II (1979–95)

Summary

Stabilities

The relative resolution of the Pro Arte's slightly skewed status in the University of Wisconsin School of Music, the settling in of Martha Blum as Moore's eventual replacement, and the secure establishment of young Parry Karp as cellist, all prefigured in 1976, came together decisively by 1979.

Momentum was on ready display in the 1979–80 season, even with a slow start in the autumn semester. Eight reported concerts included extensive collaborations with other faculty colleagues on such works as Samuel Barber's Dover Beach (with soprano Ilona Kombrink); Britten's Fantasy Quartet (with oboist Marc Fink); and some chamber-orchestra works (Stravinsky, Varèse, Brahms) led by faculty conductor Catherine Comet. Oboist Catherine Paulu was also involved, as was her daughter, flautist Laura Paulu. Szymanowski's quartet no. 2 was the first to be adopted in the group's repertoire. In New York in November, the group also made their next recording.

The spring semester (1980) was another busy one. Another collaborative concert prefaced two more in Madison, while the group made five in-state appearances in February and March (Janesville twice, Watertown, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac). In mid-March, they spent a week in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Karp had made connections. The Pro Arte seemed to find particular favor in their latest appearances there. Writing in The Province on March 17, Ray Chatelin wrote: “The Pro Arte String Quartet is an ensemble of such directness, it is difficult to understand how it also manages to play with such careful attention to nuance.” Reviewing the same concert, Lloyd Dykk of the Vancouver Sun commented specifically on the group's handling of Bartók's Third Quartet: “Threading of thought, subtilization and clarity were what made the Pro Arte's performance so engrossing, though dynamically too, I felt everything was there. What faithful musicians the Pro Arteans are, sticking scrupulously to the score while bringing the best of themselves to it.” In April the group participated in the Boulder Bach Festival in Colorado (though playing Brahms). In May of 1980, the Pro Arte made their first recording for the Laurel label, taping the original version of Beethoven's Quartet op. 18, no. 1, in Mills Hall.