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2008-09 Chamber Music at Carnegie Music Hall

September 1st, 2008 by PCMSDiana · Comments Off

Announcing our 2008-09 season concerts at Carnegie Music Hall!

Get Subscriptions Now! Single Tickets go on sale in September 2008.


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Monday, October 27, 2008 | 8pm at Carnegie Music Hall

Program:

    Haydn — Quartet in F major, Op. 74, No. 1
    Shostakovich — Quartet No. 14 in F-sharp major, Op. 142
    Dvorak — Quartet No. 14 in A-flat major, Op. 105

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If you look up “string quartet” in the dictionary, you’ll likely see a picture of the Emerson. They’ve been at the pinnacle of the genre for years. They kick off the season with the oft-humorous and comical Haydn, inventor of the genre with unparalleled compositional technique. Next is an unexpectedly peaceful and good-natured Shostakovich. The geniality continues with Dvorak, who was exuberant and joyous at returning to his native Bohemia when he wrote this, his last piece of chamber music.

www.emersonstringquartet.com

 


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Monday, November 10, 2008 | 8pm at Carnegie Music Hall

Program:

    Rachmaninov — Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor
    Schubert — Trio in B-flat major, Op. 99, D. 898
    Mendelssohn — Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66

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The Kalichstein Laredo Robinson Trio bring a matchless wisdom and intelligence to their musicmaking gained through 30 years of performing together. Their concert starts with Rachmaninov, whose moody romanticism and dazzling piano skills are already evident in this work written when he was only 19. The tone changes with Schubert’s effervescent Trio, which Schumann wrote makes “the troubles of our human existence disappear.” Hallmark Mendelssohn closes the concert – elegance, delicacy and a fairyland sparkle.

 


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Monday, December 8, 2008 | 8pm at Carnegie Music Hall

Program:

    Haydn — Quartet in F major, Op. 77, No. 2
    Shostakovich — Quartet No. 7 in F-sharp minor, Op. 108
    Gubaidulina — Quartet No. 2
    Beethoven — Quartet in A minor, Op. 132

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The rising young Jupiter, still at the beginning of their life as a quartet, perform a program that ponders the meaning of existence. Haydn may be thinking back on his own life in his last completed quartet, marked by his singular humor but tinged with melancholy reflection. Shostakovich likewise looks back with music dedicated to the memory of his first wife that is surprisingly playful and haunting, hardly mournful. Gubaidulina looks beyond herself and explores transfiguration from earthly existence to essence. And Beethoven, never meant for this world, leaves personal expression completely behind to enter the realm of universal emotion with a sublime “Holy Song” to the Divinity.

www.jupiterquartet.com

 


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Monday, February 16, 2009 | 8pm at Carnegie Music Hall

Program:

    Santamaria (arr. Coleman) — Afro Blue
    Husa — Five Poems
    Schifrin — La Nouvelle Orleans
    Ligeti — Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet
    Coleman — Portraits of Josephine Baker
    Piazzolla (arr. Scott) — Libertango

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A young and spirited group of classical musicians, Imani (meaning “faith” in Swahili) Winds are known for explorative and culturally poignant programming. Their love of jazz is reflected in works by Santamaria, Schifrin and Coleman. Virtuosity from the performers is required in Husa and Ligeti, whose extended techniques push the boundaries of musical possibility. Piazzola sings a “Song of Liberty” that proclaims his joy of discovering new ideas and pathways of expression – an apt way to sum up this entire concert.

www.imaniwinds.com

 


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Tuesday, March 31, 2009 | 8pm at Carnegie Music Hall

Program:

    Fauré — Quartet in E minor, Op. 121
    Bartók — Quartet No. 6
    Franck — Quartet in D major

Ysaye
Paris-based Ysaÿe Quartet are acknowledged masters of the French classical music literature. They bring us three quartets written at the end each composer’s life, when each had attained mastery of an individual style: Franck with his symphonic textures and frequent use of the organ; Fauré with his smoothness and flexibility, complex harmony and the theme of peace in death; and Bartok with his despair and irony in the face of World War II.

www.ysayerecords.com

 


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Sunday, April 26, 2009 | 3pm at Carnegie Music Hall

Program:

    Andante in E major, Op. 81, No. 1
    Scherzo in A minor, Op. 81, No. 2
    Quartet in A minor, Op. 13
    Quartet in D major, Op. 44, No. 1

Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 8 PM

Program:

    Fugue in E-flat major, Op. 81, No. 4
    Capriccio in E minor, Op. 81, No. 3
    Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 44, No. 3
    Quartet in F minor, Op. 80

Monday, April 27, 2009 at 8 PM

Program:

    Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 12
    Quartet in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2
    Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20
    (with the Miró Quartet)

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Exuberant, energetic, fresh – these are just a few words that describe the gifted Pacifica. You could say the same thing about Mendelssohn, and here are his works for string quartet. One of the most spectacular musical prodigies to follow Mozart, Mendelssohn composed with charm and exquisite craftsmanship that set him apart from the rest of the early Romantics. 2009 marks Mendelssohn’s 200th birthday. The Miró Quartet, close friends of the Pacifica and with a star that shines equally as bright, join in for a landmark performance of his Octet – one of the most exhilarating works in all of chamber music.

www.pacificaquartet.com

 

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2008-09 BRIDGES: A Festival of String Quartets part 2

September 1st, 2008 by PCMSDiana · Comments Off

Our Bridges festival continues its exploration of the string quartet – this time with a focus on how our hometown of Pittsburgh influences the evolution of this remarkable ensemble. Bridges part 2 features four newly commissioned works for string quartet by regional composers Mark Fromm, Albert Glinsky, David Stock, and Amy Williams. These four were chosen last season by our subscribers, and their new works will be premiered alongside standards from the repertoire in programs that are curated by you, this season’s subscribers!

Biava QuartetThe Biava Quartet, an electrifying group of young musicians with ties to our region, are your partners in bringing this revolutionary chamber music project to life (www.biavaquartet.com).

The Bridges part 2 concert dates and the Biava Quartet’s repertoire are listed below. Follow along in the process of creating new string quartets by reading our four composers’ blogs at www.pittsburghchambermusic.org (coming soon). Then, in November 2008, you be the artistic director by taking part in an online vote and choosing which works from the Biava’s repertoire will be performed alongside each premiere! You’ve got to subscribe to get in on the excitement.

All Bridges concerts take place at the newly renovated New Hazlett Theater on Pittsburgh’s dynamic North Side.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions are the most affordable and rewarding way to experience this landmark chamber music event – and it lets you be a part of choosing the programs! (see above):

  • All seating is reserved. You will be assigned best available seats at time of purchase.

  • All seating is reserved. You will be assigned best available seats at time of purchase.

 


Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 8 PM

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David Stock’s new string quartet

+ works from the Biava’s repertoire (see below)

GET TICKETS:

Click “Add to Cart” to add one ticket to your shopping cart. You will be assigned best available seats at time of purchase. Click “View Cart” at any time to begin checkout. If you would like to purchase more than one ticket for this concert, you can indicate the quantity of tickets you would like when you view your cart.

Delivery

Available for will call pick up only, with valid student ID.

 


Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 8 PM

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Mark Fromm’s new string quartet

+ works from the Biava’s repertoire (see below)

GET TICKETS:

Click “Add to Cart” to add one ticket to your shopping cart. You will be assigned best available seats at time of purchase. Click “View Cart” at any time to begin checkout. If you would like to purchase more than one ticket for this concert, you can indicate the quantity of tickets you would like when you view your cart.

Delivery

Available for will call pick up only, with valid student ID.

 


Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 8 PM

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Albert Glinsky’s new string quartet

+ works from the Biava’s repertoire (see below)

GET TICKETS:

Click “Add to Cart” to add one ticket to your shopping cart. You will be assigned best available seats at time of purchase. Click “View Cart” at any time to begin checkout. If you would like to purchase more than one ticket for this concert, you can indicate the quantity of tickets you would like when you view your cart.

Delivery

Available for will call pick up only, with valid student ID.

 


Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 8 PM

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Amy Williams’ new string quartet

+ works from the Biava’s repertoire (see below)

GET TICKETS:

Click “Add to Cart” to add one ticket to your shopping cart. You will be assigned best available seats at time of purchase. Click “View Cart” at any time to begin checkout. If you would like to purchase more than one ticket for this concert, you can indicate the quantity of tickets you would like when you view your cart.

Delivery

Available for will call pick up only, with valid student ID.

 


 

The Biava Quartet’s repertoire

Bridges subscribers choose which pieces below appear on each of the four Bridges concerts listed above via an online vote in November 2008 at
www.pittsburghchambermusic.org (2 pieces per concert + the new commission; we’ll let you know when the voting system and sound files are up). We’ll update the concert listings above once the voting is complete.

  • Haydn - Quartet in C Major, Op. 54, No. 2
  • Shostakovich - Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110
  • Mozart - Quartet in B-flat major, K. 458, “Hunt”
  • Janacek - Quartet No. 1, “Kreutzer Sonata”
  • Ginastera - Quartet No. 1, Op. 20
  • Grieg - Quartet in G minor, Op. 27
  • Mendelssohn - Quartet in F minor, Op. 80
  • Debussy - Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

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