THE ENSEMBLE

When four musicians enter an international string quartet competition at the conclusion of their training at a San Francisco conservatory, they have no inkling that their partnership will span decades. Narrator Rebecca Lowman lends a quiet passion to this rich novel based in the ruthless world of professional musicianship. She portrays the intensely ambitious Jana, first violin, with increasing sensitivity as the story unfolds. Henry, the viola prodigy, transitions from smug poise to vulnerability over time, and Lowman sympathetically depicts the simmering anger of the cellist, Daniel. The second violinist, Brit, lacks confidence despite her beauty and skill. The four are an ensemble not only of strings but also of sustained friendship as they navigate triumphs and heartbreak. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2018]