Category: Chamber Music

Brown-Urioste-Canellakis Trio

Pianist Michael Brown, violinist Elena Urioste, and cellist Nicholas Canellakis have established themselves as three of the most sought-after young virtuosos on the music scene today. Individually, they have been winners of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, BBC New Generation Artist Scheme, Sphinx, and Concert Artists Guild competitions. They have performed in prestigious venues across the U.S. and Europe, including Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and London’s Wigmore and Royal Festival Halls. Making their San Diego debut, the trio is sure to captivate the audiences with its superb musicianship and engaging performances.

Program
Ernest Chausson: Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 3; Joseph Haydn: Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Hob XV:29; Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66; Josef Suk: Elegie, Op. 23

Ariel Quartet

Characterized by their youth, brilliant playing, and soulful interpretations, the Ariel Quartet has quickly earned a glowing international reputation. Formed in Israel 16 years ago, when the members were young students, the quartet was recently awarded the prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award. They currently serve as the faculty quartet-in-residence at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where they direct the chamber music program and perform their own annual series of concerts—a remarkable achievement for an ensemble so young. This award-winning quartet has performed widely in North America, Europe, and Israel, and will be making their San Diego debut at ArtPower.

Program

Ludwig van Beethoven: Quartet in A Major, Op. 18, No. 5; Mahammed Fairouz: New Commission; Robert Schumann: Quartet in A Major, Op. 41, No. 3

Dover Quartet and Avi Avital

The New Yorker recently dubbed the Dover Quartet as “the young American string quartet of the moment.” The group catapulted to international stardom following a stunning sweep of the 2013 Banff International String Quartet competition, becoming one of the most in-demand ensembles in the world. They return to the ArtPower stage with Avi Avital, one of the world’s most exciting and adventurous musicians. Acknowledged by the New York Times for his “exquisitely sensitive playing” and “stunning agility,” Avital is the first-ever mandolin player to receive a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Instrumental Soloist category.

Program

Johann Sebastian Bach: Chaconne in D Minor, for solo mandolin; David Bruce: Cymbeline for string quartet and mandolin; Bedřich Smetana: Quartet No. 1, “From My Life”; Sulkhan Tsintsadze: Six Miniatures for string quartet and mandolin

Ensō String Quartet

Named “one of the eminent string quartets of our era” by Classical Voice, the Grammy-nominated Ensō String Quartet has risen to the front rank of chamber music performers. Founded at Yale University in 1999, the quartet has been described by Strad magazine as “thrilling,” and praised by the Washington Post for its “glorious sonorities.” The quartet quickly went on to win numerous awards, including top prizes at the Concert Artist Guild competition and the Banff International String Quartet competition. Derived from the Japanese zen painting of the circle, enso represents many things: perfection and imperfection, the moment of chaos that is creation, the emptiness of the void, the endless circle of life, and the fullness of the spirit.

Program
Alberto Ginastera: String Quartet No. 2; Giacomo Puccini: Crisantemi; Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F Major; Hugo Wolf: Italian Serenade