Australian String Quartet
National Season 2016
ADELAIDE BRISBANE CANBERRA MELBOURNE PERTH SYDNEY
Australian String Quartet With a rich history spanning over 30 years, the Australian String Quartet (ASQ) has a strong national profile as an Australian chamber music group of excellence, performing at the highest international level. From its home base at the University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium of Music, the ASQ delivers a vibrant annual artistic program encompassing performances, workshops, commissions and education projects across Australia and abroad. One of Australia’s finest music exports, the ASQ has appeared at international music festivals and toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, New Zealand and Asia in recent years. The Quartet frequently performs with leading guest artists and in recent years has appeared with internationally acclaimed artists including pianists Angela Hewitt and Piers Lane, mezzosoprano Anne Sofie von Otter, clarinettist Michael Collins, violist Brett Dean and cellist Pieter Wispelwey.
The Quartet’s performance calendar for 2016 comprises a National Season featuring three unique concert programs presented in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney; its own flagship festivals in the Southern Grampians and Margaret River; and international and regional touring. The members of the ASQ are privileged to perform on a matched set of Guadagnini instruments. Hand crafted by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini between c.1743-1784 in Turin and Piacenza, Italy, these exquisite instruments were brought together through the vision of Ulrike Klein. The instruments are on loan to the ASQ for their exclusive use through the generosity of Ulrike Klein and Ngeringa Arts. Dale Barltrop plays a 1784 Guadagnini Violin, Turin. Francesca Hiew plays a 1748-49 Guadagnini Violin, Piacenza. Stephen King plays a 1783 Guadagnini Viola, Turin. Sharon Draper plays a c.1743 Guadagnini Violoncello, Piacenza, ‘Ngeringa’.
Pictured from left, Dale Barltrop, Sharon Draper, Stephen King and Francesca Hiew
Tour 1 February / March 2016
Tour 2 June / July 2016
Alleged Dances
Tempesta
Beethoven String Quartet in B flat major op 18 no 6
Webern Fünf Sätze for String Quartet op 5
Matthew Hindson New work for string quartet and percussion (World premiere)
Haydn String Quartet in C major op 20 no 2
John Adams Excerpts from John’s Book of Alleged Dances with hand percussion (arranged Edwardes) Schumann String Quartet no 1 in A minor op 41 no 1 With guest percussionist, Claire Edwardes Tour 3 October 2016
Metamorphoses Mozart String Quartet in F major K590 Ligeti String Quartet no 1, Métamorphoses Nocturnes Ravel String Quartet in F major
Joe Chindamo String Quartet no 1, Tempesta Mendelssohn String Quartet no 6 in F minor op 80
Welcome to our 2016 season
Building on 30 years of music making, we are excited to present a National Season that truly reflects our mission – to champion great Australian music alongside the revered masters of the quartet repertoire. We invite you to join us on our journey as we delve into the masterworks of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann and Mendelssohn, juxtaposed with exciting contemporary Australian works by Hindson and Chindamo, and some of the 20th century’s finest contributions to string quartet literature – Ravel, Webern, Bartók and Ligeti. This season promises to be a feast for quartet lovers and newcomers alike. It is a unique privilege to serve the Australian community through a wide and diverse range of activities. This year will see the Quartet performing from concert halls in our National Season to a variety of smaller, more intimate settings in our brand new series, Close Quarters. We are very excited to begin this new concept in 2016, where we will perform in less conventional and more casual settings – bars, clubs, libraries and galleries, to name a few. Stay tuned for more details on our website and via social media outlets.
In 2016, we will embark on a project to record an anthology of Australian string quartets in addition to releasing several live recordings and growing our online presence. As always, we are delighted to return to the gorgeous surroundings of Dunkeld and Margaret River for our annual festivals. Our secondary and tertiary education programs will expand as regional residencies also become a regular event for the ASQ. In addition to this, we will continue to collaborate with local and international musicians and commission new works. The four of us are committed to building a bright future for the ASQ as we endeavour to enrich lives through chamber music. We look forward to sharing our season with you. Dale, Francesca, Stephen & Sharon
Alleged Dances Tour One
The Australian String Quartet launches its season with Beethoven, arguably the supreme master of the string quartet. His op 18 no 6 is a breakthrough work, the most forwardlooking of his early quartets. In an all-Australian collaboration with the dynamic percussionist, Claire Edwardes, the ASQ present an exciting new commission by Matthew Hindson. Rounding out the program is the luscious first quartet of Robert Schumann alongside American minimalist, John Adams, in a selection of irresistibly funky dances.
Beethoven String Quartet in B flat major op 18 no 6 Matthew Hindson New work for string quartet and percussion (World premiere) John Adams Excerpts from John’s Book of Alleged Dances with hand percussion (arranged Edwardes) Schumann String Quartet no 1 in A minor op 41 no 1 With guest percussionist Claire Edwardes
*Presented in association with
Adelaide* — Mon 29 February Sydney — Tue 1 March Brisbane — Wed 2 March Melbourne — Thu 3 March Canberra — Sun 6 March Perth — Mon 14 March
Tempesta
Tour Two
Webern managed to condense a lifetime of thoughts into these five succinct and beautifully crafted gems that seem to disappear right before our ears. Haydn’s early quartet from op 20 counters this with well-balanced classical logic and stark beauty. The fresh and quick-fire new style in Australian composer/pianist Joe Chindamo’s Tempesta, is a world away from the palpable anguish and heart-torn emotion in Mendelssohn’s final quartet, written in despair following the death of his sister Fanny. It was to be his last quartet.
Webern Fünf Sätze for String Quartet op 5 Haydn String Quartet in C major op 20 no 2 Joe Chindamo String Quartet no 1, Tempesta Mendelssohn String Quartet no 6 in F minor op 80
Sydney — Thu 30 June Canberra — Sun 3 July Melbourne — Mon 4 July Brisbane — Wed 6 July Adelaide — Thu 7 July Perth — Mon 11 July
Metamorphoses Tour Three
These stunning quartets by Mozart, Ligeti and Ravel were all inspired by the work of a peer – Haydn’s quartets were a great influence on the young Mozart; similarly Ligeti owes a debt to Bartók and Ravel to Debussy – yet their voices are entirely unique. Mozart brings a democratic balance to string quartet writing in this, the last of his 23 string quartets. Ligeti merges 17 contrasting miniatures that stretch the capabilities and sound world of the modern string quartet in one seamless journey. Ravel’s only foray into the quartet medium was a revolutionary exploration of texture and colour.
Mozart String Quartet in F major K590 Ligeti String Quartet no 1, Métamorphoses Nocturnes Ravel String Quartet in F major
Adelaide — Thu 13 October Canberra — Sun 16 October Sydney — Mon 17 October Brisbane — Tue 18 October Perth — Thu 20 October Melbourne — Mon 24 October
Why subscribe?
Get closer to the music with an ASQ National Season subscription package and become a valued part of our extended family. ASQ subscribers enjoy a range of exclusive benefits across the National Season including great savings, priority seating, complimentary concert programs and bonus tickets. Dig a little deeper and support the next generation of music-makers by gifting a $75 ASQ Under 30 subscription to a student in 2016.
Great savings Savings of 15% off single ticket prices. Bonus tickets Two bonus tickets to a National Season concert of your choice. Free concert program A program voucher for each concert. Priority seating Gain access to the best seats in the house. Ticket exchange Free ticket exchange to any city of your choice within the National Season. Lost ticket replacement No fees to replace your lost ticket.
Dale Barltrop — violin I
Francesca Hiew — violin II
Brisbane-born violinist, Dale Barltrop, returns to Australia after 18 years abroad to take up his new position with the ASQ. He is Concertmaster of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and has served as Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 2009.
Francesca Hiew’s passion for chamber music began at an early age as a student of Emin Tagiev and Mark Lakirovich at the Stoliarsky School of Music in Brisbane. Having completed a Bachelor of Music with Michele Walsh at the Queensland Conservatorium, Francesca continued her studies with William Hennessy at ANAM where she completed a Fellowship focusing on chamber music for mixed string ensembles. In 2012 Francesca co-founded the Auric Quartet, selected as a finalist for the 2013 Asia Pacific Chamber Music Competition and the Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition. The quartet performed in the Melbourne and Perth International Arts Festivals, Dunkeld Festival of Music and was Quartet-inResidence at the Four Winds Festival.
Barltrop began his career as Principal Second Violin of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in the United States. He has appeared with all three of these orchestras as soloist and director on numerous occasions. He has also appeared as Concertmaster of the Australian World Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle, guest director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, ACO2 and the Camerata of St John’s chamber orchestra. Barltrop began his violin studies in Brisbane, made his solo debut with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra at the age of 15 and was Concertmaster of the Queensland and Australian Youth Orchestras for numerous years. His teachers have included William Preucil, Gerald Fischbach, the members of the Guarneri Quartet, Elizabeth Morgan and Marcia Cox.
Francesca became a permanent member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2014 and is a core member of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (MCO). She has performed with the Sydney, Tasmanian and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras, Orchestra Victoria, Victorian Opera, MCO’s Australian Octet and has appeared as soloist with the MCO and Orchestra Victoria.
Stephen King — viola
Sharon Draper — cello
Stephen King plays the viola because he loves its role in the string quartet. It is both the agitator and the peacemaker, the consonance and the dissonance, the harmonic pulse and always the meat in the sandwich.
Born in Melbourne, Sharon studied at Melbourne University and ANAM under David Berlin, Philip Green, and Howard Penny. During her university studies she played regularly with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), Australia Pro Arte (now Melbourne Chamber Orchestra), Academy of Melbourne Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria.
Stephen played violin while growing up in Canberra and turned to the deep side after all but completing an architecture degree in Brisbane. Following the inspiring teaching there of Elizabeth Morgan, he completed his studies in the United States with James Dunham (Cleveland Quartet), Kathy Murdock (Mendelssohn Quartet) and Michael Tree (Guarneri Quartet). Stephen holds a Doctorate in Chamber Music from the University of Maryland. From 1997 Stephen was violist of the Coolidge String Quartet based in Washington DC and later Associate Principal Viola of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and part of the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. Stephen returned to Australia in 2003 to join the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and in 2012 he became the violist of the Australian String Quartet.
She has toured extensively with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and in 2008 Sharon was appointed a position with the MSO which she held until 2012. She was a regular participant in the MSO’s Chamber Players series and in 2009 she formed the Hopkins String Quartet. Whilst living in Berlin in 2012 Sharon performed with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Spira Mirabilis Chamber Orchestra. Sharon also has a passion for teaching, and has tutored ensembles such as the Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp orchestras, and has been a guest chamber music tutor at ANAM. In 2015 Sharon performed as a guest with the Australia Ensemble and the Australian World Orchestra, as well as forming a duo with guitarist Slava Grigoryan.
Claire Edwardes — guest percussionist, Tour 1
Matthew Hindson — guest composer, Tour 1
Internationally acclaimed percussion soloist, chamber musician and artistic director of Ensemble Offspring, Claire Edwardes has been described by the press as a ‘sorceress of percussion’ performing with ‘spellbinding intensity’ and ‘graceful virtuosity’. Her award-winning performances combine a theatrical energy with charismatic and original interpretations bringing to life the varied array of music she performs.
Matthew Hindson AM is one of the most-performed and most-commissioned composers in the world, and the leading Australian composer of his generation. As well as being performed by every Australian orchestra, the London Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic among many others, Matthew’s music has been set by dance companies such as the Birmingham Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Japan and the Sydney Dance Company.
In 2014, Claire was granted a prestigious Australia Council Music Fellowship. She is the two-time winner of the AMC/APRA Art Music Award for her contribution to Australian music (2012/2007) and was the most recent percussionist to win the Symphony Australia Young Performers Award back in 1999. Between 1999–2006, Claire was resident in the Netherlands during which time she was the winner of numerous international instrumental competitions. In Australia she has performed concertos with all of the leading orchestras, and in 2015 she championed three Australian percussion concertos including a world premiere by Iain Grandage with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
Matthew is the Acting Head of School and Acting Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. From 2004–2010, he was the artistic director of the Aurora Festival which is dedicated to the work of living composers. In 2006 Matthew was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contributions to music education and composition. From 2009–2013 Matthew was the Chair of the Music Board of the Australia Council for the Arts, and from 2013–2015, a board member of the same organisation.
Venues & dates Adelaide Adelaide Town Hall 7.00pm Mon 29 February Thu 7 July Thu 13 October
Melbourne Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank 7.00pm Thu 3 March Mon 4 July Mon 24 October
Brisbane Conservatorium Theatre, South Bank 7.00pm Wed 2 March Wed 6 July Tue 18 October
Perth Government House Ballroom 7.00pm Mon 14 March Mon 11 July Thu 20 October
Canberra Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia 2.00pm Sun 6 March Sun 3 July Sun 16 October
Sydney City Recital Hall 7.00pm Tue 1 March Thu 30 June Mon 17 October
Subscribe early and go in the draw to share an intimate dinner with the ASQ Subscribe to the ASQ National Season 2016 by 16 November 2015, and you will automatically enter the draw to be treated to dinner by Dale, Francesca, Stephen and Sharon, along with three of your friends. (The prize will be drawn 1 December 2015. Visit asq.com.au for terms and conditions.)
ASQ National Season 2016 Booking Form Step 1: Subscriptions Select your city and indicate in the boxes how many of each subscription you require. Add required service fee and any extra options and calculate the total.
Subscription
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Concession
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Under 30
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1 @ $12.00
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Plus Subscription Fee
Subtotal $ $ $ $ $ Pensioners, Healthcare Cards (including Seniors Health Cards) and full-time students are eligible for concession. We regret that Seniors Cards are not eligible for a concession. Please include photocopied proof of your status.
Step 2: Gifts / donations
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I wish to make a tax deductible donation $ $ $ $ $ $ Subtotal $ $ $ $ $ $ Grand Total $ $ $ $ $ $ Step 3: Seating preference Please indicate your seating preferences (ie aisle, centre, near stage), and please advise if you use a wheelchair, have hearing difficulties or have any other seating requirements.
*Canberra seating is general admission, however subscribers will be seated in a premium reserve area.
Step 4: Subscriber Bonus Tickets Each subscriber household is entitled to receive two bonus tickets to introduce a guest/s to the ASQ. You can request two tickets for one concert or one ticket for each of two concerts. Concert
Alleged Dances
Tempesta
Metamorphoses
Date
February / March
June / July
October
No of tickets Bonus tickets will be sent at the same time as your subscription seats. Bonus seating is allocated separately to subscription seating. Please note you will not be located next to your bonus ticket guests.
Please send the Subscriber Bonus Tickets to
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Step 5: Your details TITLE NAME
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Would you like to receive E-News updates from the ASQ? Would you like to receive information about ASQ festivals? Would you like to receive information about leaving a bequest to the ASQ in your will? Step 6: Payment Method Please choose your payment method: Cheque/Money Order Made payable to the Australian String Quartet Credit Card Mastercard Visa CARD NUMBER NAME ON CARD
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Step 8: Submitting your booking form Mail: Fax: Phone:
Reply Paid 60687, Australian String Quartet Bookings The University of Adelaide, SA 5005 08 8313 4389 Freecall 1800 040 444 to book using your credit card or for any queries.
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Thank you for playing your part The Australian String Quartet’s annual program of activity delivers world-class musical performances in Australia and abroad. With your generous support, we are delighted to share our passion for musical excellence with diverse audiences ranging from international festivals, to regional and remote Australian communities, from the concert stage to intimate school performances and tertiary masterclasses. Donor partnership allows us to proudly invest in the future of Australian music through our new work commissioning fund, which supports the commission, premiere and showcase of new Australian works both nationally and internationally. Each year the ASQ provides over 100 student subscriptions with your generous support. We invite you to share our passion by making a tax deductible donation or gifting a student subscription in 2016.
To make a donation freecall 1800 040 444, or complete the enclosed booking form.
ASQ Festivals
The Australian String Quartet is delighted to present two exquisite regional festivals in 2016 including*: leading guest artists the Trüb-Brown Duo (Luxembourg) featuring cellist Niall Brown and pianist Isabelle Trüb; soprano Sara Macliver; and talented young Australian violist Katie Yap. Set in intimate surrounds, savour a regional escape and relish the musical highlights including: Mozart String Quintet in G minor K516 Dvořák Piano Quintet no 2 in A major op 81 Beethoven String Quartet in E-flat major op 74, Harp Bartók String Quartet no 3
Schubert Sonata for cello and piano in A minor D821, Arpeggione Schoenberg String Sextet op 4, Verklärtle Nacht (Transfigured Night) Tchaikovsky String Sextet in D minor op 70, Souvenir de Florence
Image courtesy of Currant Shed. Photography — Jacqui Way.
*Isabelle Trüb appearing Dunkeld Festival of Music only and Sara Macliver appearing Margaret River Weekend of Music only.
Dunkeld Festival of Music
Margaret River Weekend of Music
Fri 1 – Sun 3 April 2016 Sun 3 – Tue 5 April 2016
Fri 8 – Sun 10 April 2016
Set in the magnificent surrounds of Dunkeld in Victoria’s Southern Grampians, enjoy wonderful hospitality provided by the iconic Royal Mail Hotel with intimate concerts presented in the Myers’ Gallery and the charming Mt Sturgeon Woolshed.
Savour the best of the spectacular Western Australian wine region with a musical adventure at Cape Lodge, Fraser Gallop Estate, Vasse Felix and Voyager Estate. With matched food and wine from four of the region’s finest wineries, this weekend of music is a feast for the senses.
For more information or to book today visit asq.com.au or call 1800 040 444.
Single Tickets Available 16 November 2015 Adelaide Standard $77, Concession $55, Under 30 $30 (transaction fee applies), BASS 131 246, bass.net.au Brisbane Standard $77, Concession $55, Under 30 $30 (transaction fee included), QTIX 136 246, qtix.com.au Canberra Standard $75, Concession $60, Under 30 $30 (transaction fee included), National Gallery of Australia (02) 6240 6701 , nga.gov.au/whatson
Melbourne Standard $83, Concession $63, Under 30 $30 (transaction fee may apply), Melbourne Recital Centre Box Office (03) 9699 3333, melbournerecital.com.au Perth Standard $83, Concession $63, Under 30 $30 (transaction fee may apply), Ticketek 1300 795 012, ticketek.com.au Sydney Standard $83, Concession $63, Under 30 $30 (transaction fee may apply), City Recital Hall (02) 8256 2222, cityrecitalhall.com Student Rush $15 tickets are available one hour prior to concert start on presentation of a full-time student card.
Official Partners
Major Sponsor
Government Supporters
Major Patrons
Leader Sponsor
Violist Sponsors
Cellist Sponsors
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
PHILIP BACON
CLITHEROE FOUNDATION
MRS JOAN LYONS & MRS DIDY McLAURIN
PETER & LYNDSEY HAWKINS
Instrument Partners
National Season Partners National Wine Sponsor
Queensland Co-presenting Partner
Melbourne Accommodation Sponsor
Sydney Accommodation Sponsor
Project Partner IAN POTTER FOUNDATION National Season 2016 Photography – Jacqui Way. Printed by Print Solutions SA
Canberra Co-presenting Partner
Luxury Menswear Partner
Adelaide Accommodation Sponsor
Other Partners
Quartet-in-Residence The University of Adelaide SA 5005 Australia T 1800 040 444 (Freecall) F +61 8 8313 4389 E asq@asq.com.au W asq.com.au AustralianStringQuartet @ASQuartet @australianstringquartet
Board Alexandra Burt Nicholas Callinan (Chair) Janet Hayes Paul Murnane Maria Myers AO Susan Renouf Jeanette Sandford-Morgan OAM Angelina Zucco, Chief Executive