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Calidore String Quartet & Huw Watkins, Composer

Calidore String Quartet
April 1, 2023 – 7:00 pm @ Southern Theatre – VIEW PROGRAM »

View Calidore String Quartet Greeting to Columbus »

The Calidore String Quartet has been praised by The New York Times for its “deep reserves of virtuosity and irrepressible dramatic instinct.” The Los Angeles Times described the quartet as “astonishing” and praised its balance of “intellect and expression.” The Washington Post has said that “Four more individual musicians are unimaginable, yet these speak, breathe, think and feel as one.”

Recipient of a 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant and a 2017 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, the Calidore String Quartet first made international headlines as winner of the $100,000 Grand Prize of the 2016 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition. The quartet was the first North American ensemble to win the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, and is currently in residence with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program (formerly CMS Two).

Jeffrey Myers, violin; Ryan; Meehan, violin; Jeremy Berry, viola; Estelle Choi, cello

PROGRAM
Jennifer Hambrick, Poet Laureate

Ching-chu Hu (born 1969)
       A Wondrous Hope:  a fanfare to celebrate the 75th season of Chamber Music Columbus (composed 2022)  World Premiere

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
       Quartet in B-flat major, K. 458 (“The Hunt”) (composed 1784)
             Allegro vivace assai
             Menuetto:  Moderato
             Adagio
             Allegro assai

Huw Watkins (born 1976)
       Quartet no. 2 (composed 2021-2022)  United States Premiere  Co-commissioned by Wigmore Hall, London, and Chamber Music Columbus
             Allegro molto
             Andante lento
             Allegro molto

INTERMISSION

       Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
             Quartet in F major, op. 135 (composed 1826)
             Allegretto
             Vivace
             Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo
             Der schwer gefasste Entschluss:  Grave, ma non troppo tratto; Allegro

Huw Watkins, Composer

As one of two international composers of the season, Huw Watkins (of Wales) brings his own perspective to Chamber Music Columbus’ 75th anniversary, contributing his deep understanding of chamber music as not only a composer, but also a storied pianist. 

His work, to be performed by the Calidore String Quartet on April 1, 2023 (no joke!) for the American premiere, is commissioned in collaboration with Wigmore Hall. The Calidore String Quartet, formed in 2010, was winning grand prizes at all major competitions for chamber music.  They are most notable for their musical expressionism and virtuosity, which is sure to be captured in this upcoming performance.

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