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e-newsletter | Spring 2006 - late version |
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MARCH MADNESS AND BEYOND Artaria was pretty active in March and will also be seeing more concert action as we begin April. Our first outing last month took place in the acoustically delightful First Presbyterian Church in Rochester, Minnesota. Artaria had performed on their Festival of Music Series a few years ago and we were thrilled to return and present our new program, entitled "From Russia with Love", featuring powerful and energetic works by Beethoven, Janáček, and Tchaikovsky. With capacity attendance from their long-established audience, we were received very warmly afterwards as we joined our audience for dessert (the no-calorie version, naturally) and punch served up by our hosts. On Thursday March 16 we collaborated with our St. Olaf colleagues in a program entitled "Russian Romantics" -- part of the annual faculty lunch-time series in Urness Recital Hall. We played the Tchaikovsky Quartet in D (naturally) and although I am not sure that Mr. "T" was all that romantic of a guy, his music sure is! The other works on that program were three Mussorgsky Songs -- which I will not attempt to pronounce (i.e. Жeлание) -- for Baritone and Piano, and seven of Scriabin's Preludes for Piano, Op.11. Lovely, rare pieces to enjoy. Many of our students from the college were attending as were a few friends down from the Cities. On March 19 we returned to our faithful audience in La Crosse, Wisconsin to closeout our thirteenth season of chamber music concerts there. Whew! Time marches on indeed. We thoroughly enjoy playing for our long-time audience/friends of Artaria across the river and they seemed to enjoy our exciting "From Russia with Love" program. The themed concert included the Quartet Op.95 by Beethoven, Janáček's first quartet entitled "Kreutzer Sonata" after the novella by Tolstoy, and Tchaikovsky's lovely Quartet in D. Regrettably, there was no sighting of James Bond... Our third Sundin Hall Series Concert took place on March 26 and featured our "FRWL" program pieces. The Russian connection in the repertoire for this program is an intriguing programmatic element, thought provoking, as is the Janáček quartet itself. Described as a "four-movement opera" by the Washington Post, this piece will bend your ear. If you missed this performance, come see it at Gustavus Adolphus on July 20th. On Sunday April 9 we return to La Crosse to present the Seven Last Words of our Saviour, music composed by Franz Joseph Haydn in 1785. This is a sublime work rich with meaning and emotion. If you haven't experienced these seven slow movements, one after the other, interspersed with narration, and followed by an Earthquake movement, you're missing out on a poignant moment. Further along the month of April we are pleased to partner with the renowned Pianist Jeffrey Siegel as guests on his Keyboard Conversations© program at Sundin Hall. The concert will take place on April 15 and will feature a ‘taxing’ program of Mozart, Mozart, and more Mozart. Featured on this concert will be the exquisite A-major concerto (K.414) arranged by Mozart to travel with a string quartet. It is a lovely work composed in 1782 the year that he began writing the so-called ‘Haydn’ Quartets for his revered mentor and friend. Come and enjoy yourselves at our concerts. If you need directions or encouragement ;^) call me at 651-587-7595
ARTARIA Upcoming Performances: April 14 - Tres Ore Service at St John the Evangelist Church, 60 Kent Street at Portland Street in St. Paul, MN. Annual noontime performance of Haydn's Seven Last Words of Christ. FREE April 15 - Artaria @ Sundin Music Hall Hamline University. 1531 Hewitt Avenue in St. Paul, MN. 7:30 pm. Jeffrey Siegel's Keyboard Conversations Series. Mozart G Minor Piano Quartet and Concerto in A Major K.414. Tickets and information available by calling the Sundin box office 651-523-2459 (Visa/Mastercard). May 28 - Concert at All Strings Attached 8224 Olsen Memorial Highway in Golden Valley MN. Time and ticket information posting soon. June 18 - Stringwood 2006. ASQ concert in Lanesboro, MN. Call or email us for info on this program. 651-554-1777. info@artariaquartet.com. July 20 - Minnesota Valley Sommerfest @ GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS. 7:30pm in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. Program entitled "Schumann and his Circle" to include the Schumann Piano Quintet. Contact the Gustavus Fine Arts department for Tickets and information (507) 933-7363
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing? Hardly.
Getting to know the incredible true life story about our violist Annalee Wolf has been a real challenge. Annalee led a mysterious and intriguing life before joining the ho-hum confines of ArtariaWorld. We thought we would pry some information out of her with a few innocent questions: So Anna, what is your Wildest Dream? World peace. Not just the absence of war in distant nations, but peace and compassion filling the heart and guiding the actions of each person within each household. Can you share with us perhaps a significant Moment of Fame you have experienced? A still photo of me with my beloved Golden Retriever, Daisy, appeared on Oprah many years ago for an episode featuring people /pet lookalikes. I had always said that I thought I would be a success in life if I were like her. However, the long tongue, whiskers, and big jowls weren't really what I had in mind! What is your Biggest personal Challenge? Parenthood. Period. Can you Describe your Perfect Day? Each day has the potential to be experienced as the perfect day. It's all up to me. When I truly receive the gift of each day of life just as it is in a spirit of gratitude, surrendering expectation, judgement, and the struggle to make it into anything else, I can recognize and appreciate the unique perfection of each day, runny noses and sticky fingers wiped on my shirt and all. Now if you are wondering about my Fantasy Day...I awaken well-rested before dawn, walk silently across my geo-thermally heated floor to my adjacent yoga studio which is surrounded by windows to take in the beauty and power of the surrounding mountains on one side and ocean on the other. I practice yoga throughout the sunrise and beyond until my massage therapist/healer arrives for my daily session. Afterward, I emerge to dine outdoors on a meal of gourmet organic, vegan, raw food, finishing just in time for my Artaria String Quartet rehearsal. As usual, no words are necessary in our rehearsal. We finish and dine together on more organic, vegan, raw food, climb into our non-polluting eco-vehicle to go to the sustainably designed concert hall and perform for a full house. The concert raises awareness and funding for programs assisting those in need. Where are my husband and children in all of this you ask? They are on a service trip in foreign countries. I will be joining them, of course, as soon as the concert series is complete. Any Indulgences? Driving a car, living in a single family home, organic raw macadamia nuts that I have shipped from California, Green Burritos from Ecopolitan (Minnesota's only 100% organic, vegan, raw restaurant), playing in a string quartet instead of getting a "real" job...um, can I say that? What was your Last purchase? Organic, raw macadamia nuts from California, a Green Burrito, and a new mute to use for my indulgent string quartet job. What can I say? I'm living the high life! Do you have a Favorite book or movie? I am currently reading The Tale of Despereaux (once again with my family), and Yoga for Healthy Knees (I'm hoping it will help my vibrato). What is your Inspiration? I am continuously inspired by people who walk their talk even when the going gets rough, who live lives of true service, and who are willing to live a less comfort-filled life in reverence toward the earth and in a compassionate effort to improve the lives of the millions of suffering beings worldwide. This brings two quotes to mind by inspirational people..."The problem with the world is that we draw the circle of our family too small." (Mother Teresa), and a quote by Mahatma Gandhi: "Think of the poorest person you have ever seen and ask if your next act will be of any use to him."
>> On Thursday March 2nd, String Theory (Meredith Vaughan, Vince Lonergan, Carly Blazing, and Nathaniel Swanson) performed at Cornelia House for the residents of Episcopal Church Homes at 490 East Lynnhurst Avenue (which is affiliated with Church of St. John the Evangelist). These concerts are becoming very popular and are an important outreach service to the community. >> The finals of the Rochester Chamber Music Society's Chamber Music Competition went full tilt on Saturday March 11th. Two of our ACMS quartets, String Theory and Fiesztengh, competed with other ensembles for their share of the prizes. The first place winner was the Fiesztengh Quartet! Congratulations to Emily Vold, Ashley Ng, Deanna Anderson, and Jon McDuffy, and to both groups for playing superbly and representing the Artaria Chamber Music School so well. >>JUST IN - Two ACMS quartets performed at the Southern Theatre this week as part of Ballet Arts Minnesota's "Springboard" dance program. The Lexington Quartet (Myra Hinrichs, Lauren Anastos, Caitlyn Ngam and Adrianne Ngam) performed the second movement of the Ravel Quartet on Thursday evening and the Mir Quartet (Sarah Goldfeather, Evan Vicic, Ryan Vold, and Thomas Shaw) performed the fourth movement of Mendelssohn's Op. 12 on Friday evening. Each group was a featured event on center stage. Audiences on both evenings lauded the quartets for their great performances and Marcia Chapman, the Ballet Director, has high hopes that we will return next year. By the way, the dancing was amazing! >> Saturday April 1st (TODAY) - Annalee Wolf Masterclass for ACMS quartets. 3:30pm at St. John the Evangelist. >> April 13th at 7:00pm - ACMS at Episcopal Church Homes - 490 East Lynnhurst Avenue in St. Paul. >> The ACMS Spring Concert takes place on April 23rd at St. Clements’s Episcopal Church, 901 Portland Avenue in St Paul at 2:00pm. Our young artist quartets will give their final performance of the season that afternoon. This event is sure to be impressive and is free and open to the public, so bring your friends and family. There will be a reception afterwards to congratulate the performers.
The Saint Paul String Quartet Competition was created to encourage a high level of musical preparation and development and provide a healthy competitive forum for the work of advancing young artists. The preliminary judges were very impressed with the superior level of musicianship and technical accomplishment that they heard on the recordings. After compiling the aggregate scores from this first round, the following six quartets are invited to compete in the Final Round of competition: Fiesztengh Quartet Competition Sponsors:
House of Note
Applications are rolling in for Stringwood 2006, Artaria's summer chamber music program in Lanesboro Minnesota. This year's dates are June 18th to June 28th. Two application deadlines were inadvertently listed, so we are honoring the April 15th one. Go to the the web site www.stringwood.com to view program details and get application forms and information.
Guest Column on ice this month
Feedback We try to place interesting articles in this newsletter for you to think about, so please let me know if there are topics you want to see discussed, questions answered, and the like. ~ RS Thank you for your present interest and past support of the Artaria String Quartet. If you would rather not receive our newsletter, send an e-mail to music@artariaquartet.com and type "no newsletter please " in the Subject line. |
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March Madness
