Holst's Marching Song, Grainger's Handel in the Strand, Margolis' Color, and Creston's Celebration Overture

*PLEASE NOTE: THIS CONCERT WAS RESCHEDULED FROM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24.

The Johannes Quartet consists of four outstanding musicians who take time away from their busy careers to pursue their love of the string quartet literature. This quartet brings together the Principal cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Principal viola of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the first American to win the Paganini Violin Competition in 24 years, and a Concert Artist Guild International Competition Winner, and has been praised by listeners and critics alike for its special combination of passion, warmth, elegance and poetry. Each member has spent numerous summers at the celebrated Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont, birthplace of many of the world's renowned ensembles. New York appearances include their recent Carnegie Hall debut as well as frequent performances on the Schneider Series at the New School and the Peoples’ Symphony Concerts at Town Hall.

Since the Johannes made its acclaimed debut there in 1998, the Chamber Music Society of Philadelphia has played a major role in launching the Quartet, presenting them regularly each season, including a two-concert series of the complete Beethoven opus 18 quartets. Their debut was described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as having "accurate intonation, vigorous interaction and careful regard for the details in the score...the passion and attack that characterize the best of quartet playing."

Highlights of the 2008-09 season include two tours with renowned Guarneri Quartet. This collaborative project includes premiere performances of "Octet: Double Quartet" a new work written for the two ensembles by award winning composer William Bolcom, commissioned by the Music Accord consortium of presenters, as well as the glorious Mendelssohn Octet. In addition to this work, the Johannes also premiere a new string quartet, “Homunculus,” written for them by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Current season performances include the Orange County Performing Arts Center(CA), San Francisco Performances, the Phoenix Chamber Music Society(AZ), UCLA Live!(in Los Angeles, CA), Kansas City Friends of Chamber Music(MO), Hayes University in Ft Hayes(KS), and for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall in New York City. This two-year project started in February 2008 with triumphant performances presented by the Krannert Center in Champaign-Urbana(IL), University Musical Society in Ann Arbor(MI), Penn State University, and Celebrity Series of Boston.

Also in the 2008-09 season, the group will return to the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society for their annual performance and masterclass, the Islip Arts Council(NY), and will make its debut at Middlebury College in VT with residency activities and a performance of Schubert’s C Major Quintet.

Recent highlights include performances in Chicago, Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa, The Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Norfolk(VA), Princeton(NJ), Schenectady(NY), and Storrs(CT) . The Johannes has also been heard around the country through broadcasts on public radio’s Performance Today and St. Paul Sunday broadcasts.


Johannes String Quartet

Price type: Low cost: 50% at £10 or less