Ives Quartet To Premier Quintet By
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Featuring
Clarinetist Dimitri Ashkenazy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2005
Contact: Natalie Haworth-Liu, Administrative Director
www.ivesquartet.org
Apr. 29, Fri. (Old First Church, San Francisco), 8pm.
Apr. 30, Sat.(St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Palo Alto), 8pm
May 1, Sun.(Le Petit Trianon Theatre, San Jose), 7pm
Palo Alto, CA - The Ives Quartet's Spring Concert Series
will feature Swiss clarinetist Dimitri Ashkenazy, with the American
Premiere of Hymn to Artemis Locheia by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
Other works include String Quartet, Op. 13 by Mendelssohn, and
String Quartet, Op 135 by Beethoven.
Hymn to Artemis Locheia was commissioned by
London's leading fertility specialist, Professor Ian Craft, in memory
of his father. Named after an ancient Greek incarnation of a fertility
goddess, Artemis Locheia, this work was inspired by Sir Peter Maxwell
Davies' experience visiting a fertility clinic. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
is universally acknowledged as one of the foremost composers of contemporary
music. He has recently finished ten years as Composer/Conductor of both
the BBC Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras, and is Composer
Laureate with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
was appointed Master of the Queen's Music in March 2004.
Dimitri Ashkenazy reunites with the Ives Quartet in
these performances. Their previous collaboration in Brahms' Clarinet
Quintet, Op.115 culminated in a soon to be released DVD recording
of the same work. Mr. Ashkenazy began his international career with
performances in Rome, Bologna, Milan, Lisbon and Palermo as well as
his London debut at the Wigmore Hall. He has performed at prestigious
venues including the Hollywood Bowl, the Royal Festival in London, the
Sydney Opera; with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Japan Philharmonic
Orchestra, the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Zurich Chamber
Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic
Orchestra, and the Prague Chamber Orchestra.
The Ives Quartet combines the talent and experience
of the international, solo, orchestral, chamber music and recording
careers of its members - Robin Sharp, Susan Freier, Scott Woolweaver
and Stephen Harrison. Each player is an acclaimed performer on his/her
instrument, earning distinction with other renowned chamber music ensembles
including the Stanford Quartet, the Chester Quartet, the Boston Composers'
String Quartet, the New England Piano Quartette, the San Francisco Symphony,
and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players.
The Ives Quartet presents a full season of fall,
winter, and spring concert series in San Francisco, Palo Alto and San
Jose. The Ives Quartet is also quartet-in-residence at the Rocky Ridge
Music Festival in Colorado, and appears on noted chamber music series
and festivals nationwide.
Committed to presenting the full scope of the
string quartet literature, the Ives Quartet --Robin Sharp and Susan
Freier, violins; Scott Woolweaver, viola; and Stephen Harrison, cello
-- continue to earn critical and popular acclaim for depth and diversity
of its programming, with repertoire ranging from recognized classics
and neglected masterpieces to new commissions and distinctive collaborations
with guest artists. Their recordings, which appear on the Laurel Record,
Music and Arts, and AIX Entertainment labels, feature rarely performed,
contemporary and commissioned works.
DATE: Friday, April 29, 2005, 8pm
LOCATION: Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco
TICKETS: For info. Call (415) 474-1608. Tickets purchased at the door
DATE: Saturday, April 30, 2005, 8pm
LOCATION: St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto
TICKETS: $25 general, $20 seniors, $15 students, (12 & under free)
(650) 328-0990
DATE: Sunday, May 1, 2005, 7pm
LOCATION: Le Petit Trianon Theatre, 72 North 5th Street, San Jose
TICKETS: $25 general, $20 seniors, $15 students, (12 & under free)
(650) 328-0990
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