FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Robert Cable, Stanford Live
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PHOTOS: http://live.stanford.edu/press
ST. LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY-SEASON WITH THREE WORLD PREMIERES AT BING CONCERT HALL
Series kicks off October 19 with new work by Stanford composer Jonathan Berger
Stanford, CA, September 19, 2014—To commemorate its 25th anniversary this season, Stanford’s prized St. Lawrence String Quartet—violinists Geoff Nuttall and Mark Fewer, violist Lesley Robertson and cellist Christopher Costanza—has commissioned a trio of new works from John Adams and Stanford-based composers Jonathan Berger and Jaroslaw Kapuscinski to be premiered at Bing Concert Hall. The series, presented by Stanford Live, will kick off October 19 at 2:30 p.m. in a performance also featuring special guest cellist David Finckel.
On that upcoming program, the Grammy-nominated ensemble will perform Haydn and Schubert but the highlight will be the unveiling of Berger’s most recent string quartet, entitled Swallow. This is the fourth he has written for them and he composed this five-movement work with the musicianship of the SLSQ players in mind.
Berger also happened to serve as chair of the Stanford search committee that originally selected the SLSQ to become the university’s resident ensemble in 1998. “In addition to being absolutely stellar musicians,” he says, “they have the ability to communicate and to transmit their passion of what they do in ways that are electrifying to any type of audience.”
On January 18, Stanford audiences will be the first to hear the latest fruits of the ongoing collaboration between the SLSQ and John Adams, one of America’s foremost contemporary composers. Their history with Adams began when he first them play his first full-scale string quartet at Stanford, John’s Book of Alleged Dances. He was suitably impressed to write String Quartet for the group, and they premiered it in 2009. “We’ve played John’s quartet 70 times in public by now,” says founding member Geoff Nuttall. “He’s a rock star in our world.”
And finally, coming on April 12 is a new piece combining the string quartet with percussion by Stanford composer Jaroslaw Kapuscinski. In between, the SLSQ will give another free Good Friday performance of Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross on April 3 and they’ll participate in Stanford’s Haydn—Patronage and Enlightenment project in February, which includes a collaborative series of concerts, classes and symposia.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that SLSQ is the jewel in the crown of Stanford’s Music Department,” says Stanford Live Executive Director Wiley Hausam. “While there are wonderful string quartets in residence at a number of American universities, to my knowledge, none of them does what SLSQ offers at Stanford. In addition to an exemplary annual season of concerts in Bing Concert Hall, they teach a heavy load, maintaining a significant touring career and have nurtured a true community of chamber music makers.”
The Sundays with the St. Lawrence series is presented in partnership with Music at Stanford.
TICKET INFORMATION
While tickets for the St. Lawrence String Quartet’s concert on October 19 is currently at capacity, a sign-up form to notified about last minute tickets is available at http://live.stanford.edu/go/notifylist.
Tickets are still available for the performances on January 18 and April 12, and range from $30-$75 for adults and $15 for all Stanford students. Tickets can be purchased at the Bing Concert Hall Ticket Office, by phone at 650-724-2464 (BING) or online at http://live.stanford.edu. The box office is located at 327 Lasuen Street. Regular hours are Tuesday-Friday from 12:00-5:00 p.m.
VENUE INFORMATION
Bing Concert Hall is located on the Stanford University campus at 327 Lasuen Street on the corner of Lasuen and Campus Dr. Parking on campus is free of charge after 4:00 PM and on weekends at all times, and may be found in the Galvez Lot across Campus Drive from Bing Concert Hall. Maps and directions are available at http://live.stanford.edu/Venues/parkingmapsdirections.php.
ABOUT STANFORD LIVE
Stanford Live is Stanford University’s performing arts presenter and producer, committed to sharing, celebrating and advancing the art of live music, dance, theater, and opera. Stanford Live unites celebrated and emerging artists with the Stanford campus and greater Bay Area communities in a broad range of experiences that engage the senses and emotions, stimulate minds, and enrich lives. The organization values artistic vitality, learning and an inclusive community. In addition to its home in Bing Concert Hall, Stanford Live also presents performances at other campus venues including Memorial Auditorium, Memorial Church and Frost Amphitheater.
CALENDAR EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
What: Sundays with the St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence String Quartet 25th Anniversary Concert
With special guest David Finckel, cello
Program: Haydn: String Quartet in D Minor, op. 9, no. 4;
Jonathan Berger: String Quartet No. 6, Swallow (World premiere)
Schubert: String Quintet in C Major, D. 956, op. 163
When: Sunday, October 19, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen Street, Stanford University
Tickets: At capacity. Sign up for last minute tickets at http://live.stanford.edu/go/notifylist.
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What: Sundays with the St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence String Quartet
Program: Haydn: String Quartet op. 20, no. 5
John Adams: New quartet (world premiere)
Beethoven: String Quartet, op. 131
When: Sunday, January 18, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen Street, Stanford University
Tickets: $30-$75 | live.stanford.edu or 650-724-BING (2464)
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What: Sundays with the St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence String Quartet with Aiyun Huang, percussion
Program: Haydn: String Quartet No. 5 in E-flat Major, op. 1, no. 0 (Opus 0)
Jaroslaw Kapuscinski: New work (World premiere)
Erwin Schulhoff: Five Pieces for String Quartet
Haydn: String Quartet in E-flat Major, op. 33, no. 2
When: Sunday, April 12, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen Street, Stanford University
Tickets: $30-$75| live.stanford.edu or 650-724-BING (2464)
Description: Stanford’s resident St. Lawrence String Quartet celebrates its 25th anniversary with a seriesof concerts, including the world premiere of a new commissioned work written for the quartet by America’s foremost contemporary composer, John Adams, and new works by Stanford composers Jonathan Berger and Jaroslaw Kapuscinski.
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