St. Louis' Public Radio program, Cityscape, recently held a conversation with John and Joanna about ASQ's upcoming season and about a concert to benefit the University City Children's Center.
Talking about ASQ's pre-concert sessions, John commented.
“If I could point to any one thing that would show how far we’ve come and how much we’ve integrated ourselves into the community and to the performing arts scene here, it would really be those pre-concert sessions where we can get to interact and joke around a little bit with the audience and really create a wonderful sort of living room atmosphere before our concert starts.”
You are invited to the opening concert of our new Secret Series!
Performed in unusual and intimate venues, the Series endeavors to bring the best of the string-quartet repertoire to new places and new faces in St. Louis.
Part of the fun is in finding out the concert series' Secret locations and dates, which will be unveiled on our brand new website.
The August secret location awaits your discovery, and features a fabulous American Bistro with a special menu for the evening.
We're really excited to be the Go! List 2014 critics' and readers' picks for Best Chamber music Group. So, thank you to all who voted for us. We appreciate your support and enthusiasm.
To celebrate, Joanna attended the party hosted by Go! Magazine. It was great fun to check out Plush in Midtown and meet other local artists and business people. To find out more visit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website.
Join us for our 15th season of concerts in St. Louis:
Sept. 5, 2014 - Dynamic Duo with clarinetist Scott Andrews
We open our season with the first of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Late String Quartets, the riveting Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op.127, a tour de force quartet that set the tone for the master’s late period of composition. The evening concludes as the St. Louis Symphony’s brilliant principal clarinetist, Scott Andrews, joins the quartet in what is sure to be an unforgettable performance of Johannes Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet, Op.115.
Nov. 7, 2014 - Beethoven and Klein with oboe virtuoso Alex Klein
Alex Klein, oboe virtuoso, returns to St. Louis to join us in an evening of stirring chamber music for oboe and strings. Take a sonic journey through the expansive range of expression of the woodwind instrument. Pieces include: Mozart: Oboe Quartet in F Major, K.370; Doráti: Notturno and Capriccio for Oboe and String Quartet; and Britten: Phantasy Quartet for Oboe and String Trio, Op.2. The quartet closes the evening with Beethoven’s Quartet in F Major, Op.135.
March 6, 2015 - Contemporary Beethoven with pianist Einav Yarden
Contemporary Beethoven is an evening to relish in modern sounds and musical languages that transcend time. We will perform Sofia Gubaidulina’s profound Quartet No.2; Beethoven’s riveting Große Fuge, Op.133; and Johannes Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor, joining forces with internationally acclaimed pianist Einav Yarden. Berlin-based Yarden’s phenomenal performances have taken her to the most important stages in the world as a concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. This concert marks her St. Louis debut.
May 8, 2015 - Bold New World
Our season finale showcases profound pieces by three giants of the world of music. Daring to boldly send the traditions of Western classical music in new directions, these three quartets of Haydn, Bartok and Beethoven continue to resonate as eternal masterpieces, and achievements of the human spirit. From Papa Haydn’s ingeniously innovative quartet Op. 20, No.5, through Beethoven’s ethereally inspired Op.132, to Bartok’s modern, folk-infused Fifth String Quartet, this promises to be a thrilling end to the ASQ’s 15th concert season in St. Louis. The four-concert ASQ subscription package is $84. Subscriptions are on sale now and are available at the Touhill Performing Arts Center Ticket Office; online at www.touhill.org; or by phone at 314-516-4949. Single tickets will go on sale on August 4.
The 2014 Arianna Chamber Music Festival concludes on Thursday, June 5th with a free performance at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Come see our young musicians as they showcase their work and talents.
Afterward meet the Arianna String Quartet and the Festival's participants at the closing reception. It's sure to be an exciting evening.
Performing in Founders Hall, Concerts at Half-Past Twelve.
ASQ recently performed in the widely-acclaimed Concerts at Half-Past Twelve series. The long running series, hosted by St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, was founded by Dr. Suzanne Forsberg, Department Chair of St. Francis' Fine Arts and Foreign Language.
Kurt and Joanna perform Mendelssohn Op. 80 in f minor.
John and Julia perform Beethoven Op. 59, No. 3 Razumovsky
Arianna String Quartet received a warm welcome by the St. Francis College audience and community. On a more personal level this venue is very special to me as I have appeared here in concerts twice before. A big thank you to Dr. Suzanne Forsberg, who I have known for about 10 years, for her leadership and artistic vision. She is the driving force behind all the wonderful music events at the college.
-Julia Sakharova, Arianna String Quartet
ASQ with Dr. Suzanne Forsberg
Thanks to Ching Man Wong for sharing his photos with us!
After arriving in Santa Catarina, Brazil for the international music festival FEMUSC, the ASQ spent two weeks performing and leading a string quartet program for young professional quartets. Here are a few notes, pictures, and comments highlighting the much enjoyed international festival:
Almost home after two weeks in Brazil at FEMUSC. The Arianna Quartet was honored to work with these amazing young quartets from Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and South Africa. The world comes together at FEMUSC, and the teaching, learning and performances give us inspiration for the entire year. Obrigado!!
-Kurt Baldwin, Arianna String Quartet
Here we are with all the wonderful quartet participants!
I miss so much the intensive coaching, the daily masterclasses, the almost daily performances, the amazing concerts. I especially miss you guys. You are truly amazing for sharing all the knowledge and experience you have as a quartet. We are so inspired by you! ¡Abrazos fuertes desde México!
Masterclass with Joanna Mendoza. Schubert Cello Quintet featuring Kurt Baldwin. Opportunity more than special
We meet up again with the Stellenbosch Quartet from South Africa, whom we worked with last August in Cape Town
We are so incredibly grateful to The Arianna String Quartet for giving us the key to unlocking another dimension of our Quartet playing. You will not find more dedicated people when it comes to string quartet playing and teaching than these four, Thank you for an incredible two weeks! -Janna Khweis Thomas, Stellenbosch String Quartet, South Africa
In addition to teaching we had the opportunity to perform multiple times in the Grand Theater of the Artistic Cultural Center of Jaragua do Sul.
Ainsi la Nuit, by Dutillieux
With flutist Alberto Almarza: Vieux Carre, by Liduino Pitombeira
Dvorak Piano Quintetwith pianist Ricardo Castro.
To celebrate the last day, we hosted a chamber music reading party for all of the quartets, plus some honorary members!
Here, a most unusual and impressive rendition of Mendelssohn Octet, with Alex Klein playing first on oboe and Rob Weir playing second cello on bassoon!!
For more comments about our FEMUSC experience visit our Facebook page .
