Between January and March 2013, the following musicians performed at the Flagler Museum. Audio clips from some of the performances have been included for your listening pleasure.
Quartetto Bernini
January 8, 2013
7:30 p.m.
The Quartetto Bernini was established in Rome in 1992. The musicians of the Quartetto Bernini have the privilege of playing four notable instruments: violins made by Nicolò Amati, Cremona 1661 and Pietro Guarneri, Venice 1734; a viola made by Giovanni & Francesco Grancino, Milan 1691; and a cello made by C. A. Testore, Milan 1758. Since 1998 the Quartet has been in residence at the Roman Philharmonic Academy, collaborating intensely on both the concert side as well as the instructional side through the School for String Instruments which they themselves instituted.
In 1999, Quartetto was awarded the ”Michelangelo Prize” for exceptional artistic merit by Ennio Morricone. The prize previously presented to Goffredo Petrassi, Renzo Piano, Alberto Sordi, as well as Ennio Morricone himself.
"These intense, attractive young Italians are not only the most photogenic string quartet around, but are also an astounding ensemble of musicians. Their Beethoven unveiled a clear but delicate sound that never prevented a passionate interpretation of the written music. The Bernini speaks a “sentimental” international language but has shown when necessary to avoid it." - The Washington Post.
Reviews:
"Exclusive Quartetto Bernini appearance well worth waiting for" - Márcio Bezerra, Palm Beach Daily News
"It was thrilling to hear this very fine group of musicians demonstrate their range in such a persuasive way" - Greg Stepanich, Palm Beach ArtsPaper
Utrecht String Quartet
January 22, 2013
7:30 p.m.
The Utrecht String Quartet is known internationally for its versatile and dynamic approach. Resident of the Netherlands, the musical world of the Utrecht String Quartet is borderless and boundless, and whichever work its musicians choose to play in the genre of string-quartet music, it is their general policy to avoid any hint of treating them like museum exhibits. Even when it comes to traditional works, the musicians succeed, time and again, in discovering elements that can be interpreted anew, or in finding unusual concert locations in which to perform them. However, it is mainly because of their search for lost or forgotten repertoire and for their collaboration with contemporary composers that the members of the Utrecht String Quartet have gained their excellent reputation in the music world.
This versatility has featured strongly in the quartet’s international tours, which have recently taken them to countries such as France, Germany, Australia and to the internationally famous Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland. As reported by the Finnish daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat: “their performance is simultaneously intellectual, analytical and strongly expressive”.
"...the long-established Utrecht players are in every way outstanding" - The Strad
Reviews:
"The Utrecht String Quartet delivered a strong performance" - Márcio Bezerra, Palm Beach Daily News
"The Utrecht approached it with fresh playing. The rhapsodic melodies appeared second nature in their bowing. It was a fine interpretation, almost dreamlike at times in its delivery ... Warm applause greeted the Utrecht, which gave two encores" - Rex Hearn, Palm Beach ArtsPaper
Schubert Ensemble
February 5, 2013
7:30 p.m.
The Schubert Ensemble has established itself over the last 29 years as one of the world’s leading exponents of music for piano and strings. The Ensemble has performed in more than 40 different countries. In 1998 the Ensemble’s contribution to British musical life was recognized by the Royal Philharmonic Society when it was presented with the Best Chamber Ensemble Award, for which it was shortlisted again in 2010.
Alongside its busy concert schedule, the Ensemble has established a reputation for innovation in the field of new music, education and audience development. This year will see the Ensemble continue its Residency at the Birmingham Conservatoire as well as giving workshops and masterclasses around the country. The Ensemble has built up strong relationships with many of the UK's leading composers, and has an impressive list of over 80 commissions. In June 2009 the Ensemble gave the world premiere of a piano quintet by Jonathan Dove at the Spitalfields Festival, and last year saw the premiere of a new piano quartet by Joe Cutler at the Cheltenham Festival in July, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. In May this year, it gave the world premiere of Pavel Novák's Unisono (Homage to the Bach Family) for piano quintet at the Newbury Festival, and in July it performed Brett Dean's Voices of Angels at the City of London Festival. In 2012, it will give the world premiere of a piano quartet by Huw Watkins at the Spitalfields Festival.
The Schubert Ensemble has produced over 30 critically acclaimed CDs of works by Schubert, Schumann, Hummel, Dohnányi, Judith Weir, John Woolrich, Fauré, Korngold, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Louise Farrenc, César Franck, Elgar, Martin Butler, Piers Hellawell, Vaughan Williams, Martinů and most recently Enescu on the Chandos label. In November it will record Dvořák’s Piano Quintet and Second Piano Quartet, also for Chandos. It has appeared on TV and radio in many countries and is familiar to British audiences through regular broadcasts on BBC Radio 3.
"To say they play with seasoned eloquence, a unanimity of feeling born of deep communal consideration, is an understatement, for they demand superlatives." - Sunday Times of London
"At the end, where the music rises to an orchestral exuberance, the performers swept us along irresistibly with that same combination of reckless abandon and perfect control" - The Telegraph of London
Reviews:
"The Schubert Ensemble brings us chamber music played beautifully and intensely, without holding back."
- Joseph Youngblood, Palm Beach Daily News
"The Sostenuto assai, is a lovely movement, full of sensitive understated English playing, each instrumentalist proving a master."
- Rex Hearn, Palm Beach ArtsPaper
Vienna Piano Trio
February 19, 2013
7:30 p.m.
For almost 20 years, the Vienna Piano Trio has performed regularly in virtually every major music center in Europe, the Americas, Australia and the Far East. The trio was founded by violinist Wolfgang Redik, cellist Marcus Trefny and pianist Stefan Mendl in 1988. Extensive studies with various highly renowned musicians paved the trio’s way to an international career soon after. The most important teachers and mentors of the ensemble include Isaac Stern, Ralph Kirschbaum and Joseph Kalichstein as well as the members of the Trio di Trieste, the Beaux Arts Trio, the Guarneri Quartet and the LaSalle Quartet.
The Vienna Piano Trio regularly performs at music festivals such as the “Schubertiade Schwarzenberg”, the festival “Aix en Provence”, the “Mozartwoche Salzburg”, the “Beethovenfest Bonn”, the Chamber-Music Festival in Kuhmo (Finland), and the festivals in Ottawa and Lanaudiere. In addition, the group tours worldwide, performing in major music cities such as London, Paris, New York, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Toronto, Montreal, Mexico City, Tokyo, Sydney, Brussels, Barcelona and Berlin. From 1997 to 2006, the Vienna Piano Trio held its own annual series of concerts as part of the Wiener Musikverein’s “Jeunesse Musicale”.
"... in this class-act concert, Schubert and the Vienna Trio made it all seem easy, from the opening seconds, Schubert´s Trio in B flat major, D898, sounded youthful, energetic, and above all, confident." - The Oxford Times
"The ensemble makes it all logical, nicely paced to bring out all the formal values, but with enough fantasy and imagination to make all the work´s special moments richly rewarding." - The Vancouver Sun
Reviews:
"Intense Vienna Piano Trio Impresses at Flagler Museum Performance" - Joseph Youngblood, Palm BeachDaily News
"Vienna Piano Trip Polishes Program to Gold" - Rex Hearn, Palm Beach Artspaper
Miró Quartet
March 5, 2013
7:30 p.m.
Hailed by the New York Times as possessing "explosive vigor and technical finesse", the dynamic Miró Quartet, one of America's highest-profile chamber groups, enjoys its place at the top of the international chamber music scene. Now in its second decade, the quartet continues to captivate audiences and critics around the world with its startling intensity, fresh perspective, and mature approach.
Founded in 1995 at the Oberlin Conservatory, the Miró Quartet met with immediate success winning first prizes at the Coleman, Fischoff, and Banff competitions as well as the prestigious Naumburg Chamber Music Award. The Miró Quartet was also a recipient of the Cleveland Quartet Award and was the first ensemble ever to be awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant. Since then, the Miró Quartet has performed throughout the world in important venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, the Berlin Philharmonic's Kammermusikaal, and the Konzerthaus in Vienna. The Miró Quartet's 2012-2013 season includes a return to Carnegie Hall and performances at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
The Miró Quartet has been heard on numerous national and international radio broadcasts, including American Public Media's Performance Today and Minnesota Public Radio's Saint Paul Sunday. In addition, the Quartet has released numerous recordings; most recently a live disc featuring works of Kevin Puts and Antonín Dvořák. Additional releases include all the Op. 18 Quartets of Beethoven as well as the Schubert Quintet with acclaimed cellist Matt Haimovitz. The Quartet's recording of George Crumb's Black Angels won the prestigious French "Diapason d'Or" prize. During the 2012-2013 season, the Miró Quartet will release a new disc featuring Beethoven's 'Razumovsky' Quartets.
"Throughout, the Miró Quartet played with explosive vigor and technical finesse." ‐ New York Times
Reviews:
"Miró Quartet's bold approach shines in Flagler's Music Series" - Márcio Bezerra, Palm Beach Daily News
"Miró Quartet ends Flagler series in brilliant fashion" - Rex Hearn, Palm Beach ArtsPaper
