Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

Fantastic Four

Quartetto Gelato have earned a reputation as something of the Cirque du Soleil of the classical-music scene. Perhaps that’s because member Colin Maier once performed with the famed circus-arts troupe, and has been known to fall into a chair split onstage without missing a note on the oboe. Whatever the case, the Canadian ensemble does bring a bit more pizzazz to the table than your average quartet. Their worldly repertoire ranges from classical masterworks to gypsy-folk songs to tangos — and violinist Peter De Sotto may just break out his operatic tenor in a Neapolitan love song. No high-flying trapeze tricks here ... but these exploits, mixed with high-caliber music, are still pretty damn exciting.