“With enthrallingly flawless execution and miraculous synchronicity, the Carpe Diem String Quartet wowed their New York audience on Saturday night at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. Comprising of Charles Wetherbee and Amy Galuzzo on violin, co-founder Korine Fujiwara on viola, and Carol Ou on cello, the four aptly describe their style as ‘virtuosity without pomposity.’ The experience of the extremely diverse ensemble was an unmatched delicacy of the classical and modern music scene.”
—NY Theatre Guide
“Extraordinary… The Carpe Diem’s performance of Beethoven’s Op. 59 No. 1 quartet (one of the hardest in the repertoire) had everything: care with dynamics and accents, timing of nuances, clarity of voice-leading and the widest ranges of character in each movement. This was one of the finest performances of a quartet standard I’ve heard in years.” “…Fun and sexy…” “Among these contemporary quartets who speak in different tongues, the Carpe Diem is the best one out there.”
—The Washington Post
“The musicians in Carpe Diem String Quartet are terrific and their concert was outstanding. Our patrons loved the show. I also saw them at a showcase in New York when they played a totally different repertoire and they were again, outstanding and very entertaining. Carpe Diem String Quartet is also a joy to work with. I highly recommend them.”
—Grant Andre, Music Director, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
“For many years Columbus Dance Theatre has enjoyed an ever developing relationship with the Carpe Diem String Quartet. Our patrons have come to look forward to not only great dancing from our Company but live music of the highest caliber at all of our concerts. Carpe Diem has become a fixture at CDT both playing for our concerts and performing in concert series of their own. Simply put — it is a thrill each time they put bow to string and our enthusiastic audiences relish their music.”
—Tim Veach, Artistic Director and Founder, Columbus Dance Theatre
“Carpe Diem String Quartet is an incredibly versatile and captivating ensemble. Whether they are performing the standard quartet literature, new music, jazz, crossover, fiddle tunes, pop music, or even their own arrangements and compositions, they breathe a special life and vitality into every performance. Their concerts on campus and in the community are events not to be missed!
“I recommend Carpe Diem String Quartet whole heartedly. Their performance will be the highlight of your season!”
—Cameron Bennett, Dean, School of Arts and Communication & Professor of Music, Pacific Lutheran University
“High spirited and good natured playing… considerable assurance… confident and urgent playing… With assured playing and impressive unity from the Carpe Diem, the disc is a valuable addition to Taneyev’s expanding discography.”
—Michael Cookson, MusicWeb International
“This was music making at its finest.”
—Lyman Leathers, The Delaware Gazette
“I have had the pleasure of presenting Chas Wetherbee and Carpe Diem in my venue, The Pavilion at Keystone, for 4 of the last 5 summers, and look forward to another great concert this August 8, 2010. Carpe Diem features amazing music that appeals to my Keystone cross section of patrons, including second homeowners, vacationing families, and locals. They display incredible talent and music, as well as an inviting atmosphere for music lovers of all levels to enjoy and appreciate their repertoire. The musicians are highly professional but also friendly and approachable, and their love for the music transcends during their brief descriptions of song selections, composers, instruments, etc. I would recommend Carpe Diem to any venue looking for an exciting, unique, and fun night of Chamber music.”
—Josh Blanchard, Events Manager, Keystone Neighbourhood Company
“The Carpe Diem String Quartet is to be commended for its adventurousness in rescuing these appealing works from neglect. The playing is excellent, unanimous in spirit, homogeneous in tone, with fine give-and-take between leading and supporting.”
—Edith Eisler, Strings Magazine
“The Carpe Diem Quartet brings clear enthusiasm for the music and obvious commitment.”
—Roderic Dunnett, The Strad
“They play magnificently. Beautiful tone, lots of Slavic passion, perfect ensemble — they are living proof that one need not be a part of a national tradition to perform it.”
—Kenneth Keaton, American Record Guide
“Direct comparison shows the American Carpe Diem Quartet to be every bit as closely in touch with the idiom — if anything, they bring rather more emotional weight, never inappropriately applied — and just as well recorded.”
—David Fanning, Gramophone
“This album marks the beginning of a cycle of Taneyev’s quartets, and the first release is auspicious in its quality. Above all, I am impressed by the group’s dark, beautiful tone, which hearkens back to some of the great Soviet quartets of yore.”
—Barry Brenesal, Fanfare
“Carpe Diem is lighter, cleaner, more lyrical, and more rhythmic, an approach that works wonderfully well.”
—James Leonard, All Media Guide
“The Carpe Diem String Quartet plays with firmness and commitment. They can phrase very plaintively.”
—Johnathan Woolf, MusicWeb International
“It was a great pleasure for me to work with the members of the Carpe Diem Quartet as they rehearsed my Second String Quartet. They were thoroughly professional in their approach to the piece, so much so that I knew as soon as the rehearsal began that I would receive a stellar performance at the concert. Each member of the ensemble is a consummate artist and it showed in their complete understanding of what I wrote.”
—Donald Harris, Composer