2011-12 Season

Passacaglia and Fugue in c minor, arranged by Nicholas Kitchen

String Quartet in e minor, Op. 44 No. 2

Arnold
Schoenberg

« A remarkably accomplished string quartet, not simply for
its high technical polish and refined tone, but more
importantly for the searching musical insights it brings »
– The Chicago Tribune

Since its explosive debut in 1989, the critically acclaimed Borromeo String Quartet has become one of the most sought after ensembles in the world, equally famous for its dynamic stage presence and ravishing interpretations of new music and old. They are rapidly redefining the classical music landscape through technological innovation. The New York Times recently wrote: "Thedigital tide washing over society is lapping at the shores of classical music. The Borromeo players have embraced it in their daily musical lives like no other major chamber music group."

Franz
Schubert

« Mills played Messiaen as if he'd just received it from
some distant, vast and magnificent reach of the cosmos »
– The Washington Post

Based in New York City, the Duo Prism is in demand for their artfully unique voice as interpreters of violin and piano works. They are acclaimed for reviving the contemporary fire of the classical works they perform, and for their collaborations with today's top composers. Jesse Mills, violin, is widely known as a champion of new music and a renowned improvisational artist. Rieko Aizawa, piano, is praised by the NY Times for her "impressive musicality, a crisp touch and expressive phrasing." Brad Gemeinhardt is one of New York City's leading horn players and performs with the Metropolitan Opera, NY Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and on Broadway.

String Quartet No. 3 in E-flat major

Franz
Schubert

String Quartet No. 4 in C major, D. 46

Alexander. Borodin

String Quartet No. 2 in D major

« Haydn and Ravel seemed to live again with the outstanding
Modigliani quartet's unforgettable flame »
– Le Monde de la Musique

« Swirling Tensions, Surging Passions »
– New York Times

One of today's hottest international tickets, the Modigliani's chemistry invariably captivates audiences with their spontaneous style and staggering virtuosity. Formed in Paris in 2003, they were selected for this year's ECHO Rising Stars tour of Europe's most prestigious halls, in addition to tours in Australia and the USA. Engagements include Vienna's Musikverein, Lucerne Festival, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, Wigmore Hall, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Luxembourg's Philharmonie, Tokyo's Kioi Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center.

Quartet in G Major (1958)

George Gershwin
(USA,1898-1937)

String Quartet No. 5 (1931)

« Among the most fascinating and exciting string quartet
discs I have heard in a long time, with vital, fresh,
imaginative music and sensitive, brilliant performances »
– The Washington Post

Celebrating its thirtieth anniversary season, Mexico's award-winning Cuarteto Latinoamericano is known worldwide as the leading proponent of Latin American music for string quartet. They have performed with many major orchestras and toured extensively around the globe to give performances in Europe and the Americas, Japan, China, New Zealand and Israel. The group has premiered more than a hundred new works written for them, and recorded more than fifty adventurous CDs exploring three centuries of Latin American music. Their sixth, and final, album of Villa-Lobos's 17 string quartets was nominated for both a United States and Latin Grammy Award.