Author: Magareth Soriano
I had always seen those Candlelight concert ads on my Instagram and have always been intrigued by how a string quartet can transform pop music into an instrumental classical piece. So, when my friends eagerly asked to attend “Tribute to Adele” night, I said yes with no questions asked.
This night was held at the Museum of Flight in the William M. Allen Theater. Walking in, you could immediately tell that the atmosphere was romantic, elegant, and awe-inspiring. They asked us not to film or take pictures during the concert until the last song, when we could capture what we wanted. This added even more to the experience, as I could really focus on the quartet and immerse myself in the concert.
The string quartet came out, introduced themselves, and went into the first song, “Hello.” They joked about how perfect of an introduction the song was. Just after the first song and introductions, I could tell the night was going to be filled with laughter, but that it would also be a magical experience. Adele’s music sounded perfect when played on the cello, violin, and viola. The music they chose was a perfect mix of Adele’s greatest hits like “Someone Like You” and “Skyfall,” and her more heartbreaking, slow songs like “When We Were Young” and “Easy On Me.”
They also had “Oh My God” and “Set Fire to the Rain” on the setlist. I was curious to hear how these would sound since these songs are more fiery and pop than the others, but the Seattle String Quartet made them work beautifully, bringing in more of the cello and the deep tones that came with plucking the strings. The night ended with them playing “Skyfall,” which was the perfect send-off, as we got to see how far the range of the string quartet can go. If you have an opportunity to go to one of these concerts, I highly recommend it, as it was an experience that will last a lifetime!
Margareth Soriano | Music and Arts reporter