The Arianna String Quartet is composed of (from left) violinist John McGrosso, violist Joanna Mendoza, violinist Julia Sakharova and cellist Kurt Baldwin.
The acclaimed St. Louis-based Arianna String Quartet, resident artists at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, has announced its 2013-14 St. Louis concert series. The quartet will perform four concerts – “Out of Africa” featuring Alex Klein, oboe; “An Evening with Johannes Brahms” with pianist Timothy Hester, “A Night at the Opera” with special guest soprano Stella Markou and “High Five” with cellist Zuill Bailey – in the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center At UMSL. Subscriptions are on sale now at Touhill.org and by calling 314-516-4949. Single tickets go on sale early August.
While the ensemble routinely performs chamber music masterpieces throughout the United States and abroad, the ASQ has been based in St. Louis since 2000. The quartet is composed of violinists John McGrosso and Julia Sakharova, violist Joanna Mendoza and cellist Kurt Baldwin.
“Out of Africa,” Sept. 6
The season kicks off with an evening featuring works the quartet specifically chose to perform on its recent South African tour.
FELIX MENDELSSOHN: Quartet in F minor, Op.80
ARNOLD VAN WYK: Five Elegies for String Quartet
FRANZ SCHUBERT: Quartet in D minor, “Death and the Maiden”
“An Evening with Johannes Brahms, The Three Piano Quartets,” with Timothy Hester, piano, Nov. 8*
Driven by lush sonorities, lyricism, drama and passion, the Brahms’ Piano Quartets are three of the most important works in the chamber music literature.
BRAHMS: Piano Quartet in G minor, Op.25
BRAHMS: Piano Quartet in A Major, Op.26
BRAHMS: Piano Quartet in C minor, Op.60
“A Night at the Opera” with Stella Markou, soprano, March 7
An evening of love, loss and everything in between! This program features works for string quartet by some of music’s greatest opera composers, and includes a few favorite concert arias for soprano, featuring Stella Markou.
W.A. MOZART: Quartet in C Major, K.465 “Dissonant”
FAVORITE OPERA ARIAS
GIACOMO PUCCINI: “Crisantemi”
GIUSEPPE VERDI: Quartet in E minor
“High Five” with Zuill Bailey, cello, May 9
Virtuoso cellist Zuill Bailey joins the Arianna String Quartet in Beethoven’s rarely heard string quintet arrangement of his beloved “Kreutzer” Violin Sonata, offering a unique and fresh perspective into the mind of the great composer.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: String Quintet, Op.47 “Kreutzer”
ANTON WEBERN: Five Pieces for String Quartet
FRANZ SCHUBERT: String Quintet in C Major, Op. posth.163
Each ASQ concert is an E3! performance, Explore – Experience – Engage. E3! pre-show discussions, which begin 50 minutes prior to the performance, and post-show receptions are free to ticket holders.
The four-concert ASQ subscription package is $84. Subscriptions are on sale now and are available at the Touhill Performing Arts Center Ticket Office; online at touhill.org; or by phone at 314-516-4949. Single tickets will go on sale in early August.
*NOTE: This program replaces “Spanning the Globe” previously listed for the Nov. 8 concert date. Tickets to “Spanning the Globe” will be honored for this concert, there is no need to exchange.
