Giora Schmidt, violin
Sarah Ho, piano
Garneau String Quartet

Our season begins with music from three of the great romantics. We are thrilled to welcome violin virtuoso, Giora Schmidt to our series. Giora is one of New York’s finest violinists and pedagogues. He will be joined by our own incredible Sarah Ho for Robert Schumann’s splendid Pieces in Folk Style. Then, ancient folk-tunes continue in Alexander Glazunov’s sublime character pieces or Novelettes for String Quartet. After intermission Schmidt joins the GSQ for Johannes Brahms’ optimistic and ravishing quintet in F major.

- PROGRAM -

ALEXANDER GLAZUNOV
Novelettes for String Quartet, Op. 15
Orientale, Interludium in modo antico, Finale. Allegro

ROBERT SCHUMANN
Five Pieces in Folk Style, Op 102

HENDRIK ANDRIESSEN
Quartetto in stile antico

JOHANNES BRAHMS
String Quintet No. 1 in F major, Op. 88

This concert will include an intermission.

Matthew Cohen, viola
Dongkyun An, cello
Garneau String Quartet

Two terrific Edmonton-based artists are featured in a program that takes us from Joseph Haydn’s Sunrise into Arnold Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night. Also on our program is the magically evocative Cloud Trio by the late Finnish visionary, Kaija Saariaho. Our brilliant guest artists are violist, Matthew Cohen and cellist, Dongkyun An. Both distinguished soloists and ambassadors for Edmonton’s vibrant chamber music scene.

This concert will include an intermission

- PROGRAM -

HAYDN
Sunrise Quartet Op. 76, No. 4

KAIJA SAARIAHO
Cloud Trio

ARNOLD SCHOENBERG
Verklärte Nacht String Sextet, Op. 4

The GSQ makes its debut on the Amati Concert Series in Saskatoon. 

This unique series features a collection of rare fine instruments that was assembled by Stephen Kolbinson, a grain farmer from Kindersley, Saskatchewan. Kolbinson developed a passionate curiosity for old Italian instruments, and traveled the world looking for instruments to add to his collection. A close friend of Kolbinson, Murray Adaskin played an important role in the University of Saskatchewan’s acquisition of the Amati instruments in 1959.

The GSQ will put their instruments aside and perform on this fantastic quartet of Amatis.

- PROGRAM -

HAYDN - Sunrise Quartet Op. 76, No. 4
MAZZOLI - Enthusiasm Strategies
GLAZUNOV - Novelettes for String Quartet, Op. 15

Philip Chiu, piano
Garneau String Quartet

Canada’s piano-superhero Philip Chiu makes a triumphant return to our stage for a program that includes Edward Elgar’s heart-wrenching Piano Quintet. The keeper of England’s musical heart wrote this masterpiece in the final year of WWI as an elegy to a bygone age. On the first half, Chiu will share music by Amy Beach and Percy Grainger. Our concert opens with a selection of Fantasias by Henry Purcell. These gorgeous pieces are some of the earliest four-voice string music and we can’t wait to experience them in the Winspear Centre’s perfect acoustic.

This program will include an intermission.

- PROGRAM -

AMY BEACH  - Scottish Legend
PERCY GRAINGER - Irish Tune from County Derry
PERCY GRAINGER - Molly Shores

HENRY PURCELL
Fantasias

EDWARD ELGAR

Piano Quintet, Op. 44

Philip Chiu, piano
Garneau String Quartet

Canada’s piano-superhero Philip Chiu makes a triumphant return to our stage for a program that includes Edward Elgar’s heart-wrenching Piano Quintet. The keeper of England’s musical heart wrote this masterpiece in the final year of WWI as an elegy to a bygone age. On the first half, Chiu will share music by Amy Beach and Percy Grainger. Our concert opens with a selection of Fantasias by Henry Purcell. These gorgeous pieces are some of the earliest four-voice string music and we can’t wait to experience them in the Winspear Centre’s perfect acoustic.

This program will include an intermission.

- PROGRAM -

AMY BEACH  - Scottish Legend
PERCY GRAINGER - Irish Tune from County Derry
PERCY GRAINGER - Molly Shores

HENRY PURCELL
Fantasias

EDWARD ELGAR

Piano Quintet, Op. 44

Land's End Ensemble
Garneau String Quartet

Our season concludes with an especially exciting collaboration. The Land’s End Ensemble is one of Alberta’s most treasured cultural institutions. These musical adventurers have been championing the music of our time for 25 years. Come experience music of Lena Auerbach, Huw Watkins and the incredible late Beethoven quartet, op.130 (one of his last works).

This concert will include an intermission.

- PROGRAM -

LENA AUERBACH
Piano Trio No. 2 "The Mirror has Three Faces"

HUW WATKINS
"Sad Steps" for piano and string sextet

BEETHOVEN
String Quartet Op. 130 in B-flat major