Australian String Quartet N AT I O N A L S E A S O N 2 01 8
ADELAIDE
B R I S BA N E
CANBERRA
MELBOURNE
P E RT H
SYDNEY
The human mind is fertile soil for new ideas to take root. When given sufficient space to flourish, these ideas can explode into a fantastical garden of possibilities – redefining the way that we perceive ourselves and the world around us.
Unleash the Mind In our busy lives, moments for this kind of joyful and rejuvenating mind-wandering are precious few. The Australian String Quartet’s National Season 2018 cultivates these vital opportunities for culture. We invite you to join us. Angelina Zucco Chief Executive Australian String Quartet
Welcome Welcome to the Australian String Quartet 2018 season. From the surging momentum of Philip Glass to the contemplative closure of Shostakovich’s tenth string quartet, we are pleased to present a menu of works that will traverse the vast spectrum of human emotions. Major works of the master composers, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Schubert and Shostakovich headline each program. Interspersed among these milestones are a selection of audacious contributions from leading figures of the contemporary musical world. Through the lens of these modern works, the masterworks of the past are viewed in a new light, restoring the potency of their uplifting spirit. Mendelssohn banishes the clouds to allow the sun to radiate gloriously in the most uplifting of all of his string quartets. Beethoven’s life traversed magnificence and struggle, reflected in the extraordinary trajectory of the sixteen string quartets that span his career. His very first and last quartets, whilst worlds apart, are remarkably similar in the sense of unshaded classicism they share.
Schubert warms the soul with a beguiling concoction of musical tenderness and dramatic sensibility, alongside the tenth quartet of Shostakovich, which journeys through a rich landscape of shifting characters, all evoking a sense of the composer’s search for understanding and wisdom. We eagerly anticipate the premiere of a newly commissioned string quartet by Perth-based composer, James Ledger. Brett Dean’s brilliant first string quartet, Eclipse, will be paired with the iconic American minimalist, Philip Glass, and Jörg Widmann’s wildly theatrical Hunt Quartet will offer a flight of fantasy amidst two towering achievements of Beethoven. This is a journey of contrasts that will ignite your senses and provide food for thought. In the spirit of curiosity and adventure, we invite you to join us as we uncover these musical gems, old and new. Dale, Francesca, Stephen & Sharon
Glass Dean Mendelssohn Tour 1
Philip Glass reflects upon the life of the iconic poet Yukio Mishima in a work of great evocative power, gripping in its vivid musical imagery of the controversial artist’s turbulent life. Brett Dean’s art is driven by serious concerns and his first string quartet responds to the events of the refugee crisis, through music of haunting eeriness and explosive anger reaching tentatively towards the hope for peace. The intensity of these opening works finds a perfect counterpoise in Mendelssohn’s radiant String Quartet in D major, where the composer marshals the full resources of his prodigious musicality in a virtuosic creation of musical sunshine. With all the ecstatic brilliance of the composer’s most joyful music, the quartet reminds us of music’s power to revive the spirit.
Philip Glass String Quartet no 3 Mishima Brett Dean String Quartet no 1 Eclipse Mendelssohn String Quartet in D major op 44 no 1 Canberra Sun 11 February, 2pm Sydney Mon 12 February, 7pm Adelaide Thu 15 February, 7pm Melbourne Fri 16 February, 7pm Perth Mon 19 February, 7pm Brisbane Thu 22 February, 7pm
Beethoven Widmann Beethoven Tour 2
The spirit of Beethoven fuels this dramatic recital, juxtaposing the first and last of his masterful quartets.
Beethoven String Quartet in F major op 135 Jörg Widmann String Quartet no 3 Hunt Quartet Beethoven String Quartet in D major op 18 no 3
In 1826, Beethoven’s personal life had descended into swirling chaos. But the majestic opus 135 Quartet he composed in that year gives no hint of it. The quartet is a miracle of transcendent beauty where Beethoven reconciles the competing sensibilities of classical order and radical Romanticism, to find consolation in the work’s restorative harmony.
Brisbane Tue 26 June, 7pm Sydney Fri 29 June, 7pm Canberra Sun 1 July, 2pm Melbourne Tue 3 July, 7pm Adelaide Thu 5 July, 7pm Perth Mon 9 July, 7pm
German composer Jörg Widmann channels the spirit of Beethoven the innovator in a work of mischievous iconoclasm, transforming the driving rhythms of the seventh symphony into a startling tour-de-force of the art of performance. Published in 1801, the first quartet announces Beethoven’s arrival as musical wunderkind of the new century. The young composer exhibits his command of the style of the master composers, Mozart and Haydn, and points forward to the ways he would transcend them.
Schubert Ledger Shostakovich Tour 3
Works by two of the great quartet composers bookend this fascinating program. Schubert considered his thirteenth quartet to be a new beginning, where a command of dramatic expressiveness, gathered from his recent experiments in composing for plays and opera, infuses his natural lyrical gift with a new dimension of emotional and pictorial power. Shostakovich wrote his tenth quartet at the idyllic spa resort of Dilizhan and the spirit of respite and communion with nature lends the work a rare sense of ease. But powerful feelings are by no means absent and in its wild twists of mood and pace, the quartet essays a rich journey towards emotional wisdom. A contemporary flavour is added with an electric new work by James Ledger, now a leading figure among Australia’s composers, renowned for his ability to create striking imagery in musical form.
Schubert String Quartet no 13 in A minor Rosamunde James Ledger String Quartet no 2 Transmissions* Shostakovich String Quartet no 10 in A-flat major op 118 *World premiere performances Perth Wed 26 September, 7pm Brisbane Mon 1 October, 7pm Melbourne Tue 2 October, 7pm Sydney Wed 3 October, 7pm Canberra Sun 7 October, 2pm Adelaide Tue 9 October, 7pm
Australian String Quartet For over 30 years, the Australian String Quartet (ASQ) has created unforgettable string quartet performances for national and international audiences. Dedicated to musical excellence with a distinctly Australian character, our purpose is to create chemistry and amplify intimacy through experiences that connect people with string quartet music.
From our home base at the University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium of Music, we reach out across Australia and the world to engage people with an outstanding program of performances, workshops, commissions and education projects. Our distinct sound is enhanced by a matched set of 18th century Guadagnini instruments, handcrafted by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini between c.1743 and 1784 in Turin and Piacenza, Italy. These precious instruments are on loan for our exclusive use through the generosity of UKARIA. Our 2018 program is rich with exciting opportunities. Alongside our National Season, we continue
our successful flagship festivals in the Southern Grampians, Victoria and Western Australia’s Margaret River and pilot a new mini-festival on the north-coast of New South Wales. Among other highlights, 2018 welcomes international tours to China and Europe; regional and metropolitan residencies; Australian recording initiatives; intimate Close Quarters gigs in unique spaces across the country; and the continuation of our successful morning series at UKARIA Cultural Centre. As we continue our collaboration with some of the country’s finest artists, festivals and innovators, our 2018 program of activity includes: our association with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
for the Metropolis New Music Festival, our collaboration with the Port Fairy Spring Festival to celebrate the Songlines of this country through the inspirational ‘Quartet and Country’ project; and our partnership with Jumpgate VR on the development of our new ASQ digital platform. Left to right: 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 Grigoryan plays a c.1743 Guadagnini Violoncello, Piacenza,‘Ngeringa’.
James Ledger Guest Composer
James Ledger’s first string quartet, Processions, was commissioned by the Australian String Quartet in 2011. He is a versatile composer with a breadth of work spanning chamber ensemble, solo works and orchestral music, and is well-known to Australian concertgoers. He has been composer-in-residence with the West Australian, Adelaide and Christchurch (NZ) Symphony Orchestras and at the Australian National Academy of Music, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (Townsville) and the Four Winds Festival (Bermagui). He has won APRA Art Music Awards for his violin concerto Golden Years and the orchestral work Chronicles.
“James Ledger has established an impressive reputation as a symphonic composer, and his foray in the rarefied world of string quartet is a triumph.” The Australian
Ledger enjoys an ongoing collaboration with songwriter Paul Kelly. Their song-cycle Conversations with Ghosts won an ARIA award in 2013. In 2015 the Sydney and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras simultaneously premiered War Music for choir and orchestra, with text by Kelly. He is currently lecturer in composition at the School of Music at the University of Western Australia.
Season Overview
Venues & Dates
Tour 1 11 – 22 February 2018 Philip Glass String Quartet no 3 Mishima Brett Dean String Quartet no 1 Eclipse Mendelssohn String Quartet in D major op 44 no 1
Adelaide Adelaide Town Hall 7pm Thu 15 February Thu 5 July Tue 9 October
Tour 2 26 June – 9 July 2018 Beethoven String Quartet in F major op 135 Jörg Widmann String Quartet no 3 Hunt Quartet Beethoven String Quartet in D major op 18 no 3 Tour 3 26 September – 9 October 2018 Schubert String Quartet no 13 in A minor Rosamunde James Ledger String Quartet no 2 Transmissions Shostakovich String Quartet no 10 in A-flat major op 118
Brisbane Conservatorium Theatre South Bank 7pm Thu 22 February Tue 26 June Mon 1 October Canberra Gandel Hall National Gallery of Australia 2pm Sun 11 February Sun 1 July Sun 7 October* Melbourne Melbourne Recital Centre 7pm Fri 16 February Tue 3 July Tue 2 October Perth Government House Ballroom 7pm Mon 19 February Mon 9 July Wed 26 September Sydney City Recital Hall 7pm Mon 12 February Fri 29 June Wed 3 October *James O Fairfax Theatre National Gallery of Australia
Get closer to the music Why subscribe? Enjoy a range of exclusive benefits as an ASQ subscriber. In addition to great savings, priority seating and free concert programs, subscribers receive two bonus tickets. Valued at over $150, these bonus tickets are our gift to you and we encourage you to share them with friends. Get closer to the music with an ASQ National Season subscription and become a valued member of our extended family. Early bird subscription offer Subscribe to the ASQ National Season by 30 November 2017 and you will automatically enter the draw to be treated to a meal with Dale, Francesca, Stephen and Sharon, together with three of your friends. The prize will be drawn 1 December 2017. Visit asq.com.au for terms and conditions.
National Season 2018 Booking Form
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Nurturing tomorrow, today. As Australia’s string quartet, we proudly and continuously strive to cultivate a rich and inclusive musical culture in Australia, and we are setting our sights high as we look to the future. We aspire to captivate new audiences, broaden our channels of connection, deepen our commitment to regional audiences and deliver more programs that inspire and engage the next generation of audiences and musicians. As champions of Australian music, we are passionately committed to showcasing more work by our country’s very own music-makers. It is only with your support that we can achieve our vision for tomorrow. Your donation will ensure that we can continue to thrive as Australia’s national string quartet. Your support will help to nurture a musical legacy. Please donate today. asq.com.au/support
ASQ Festivals Join the Australian String Quartet and guest artists for two exquisite regional festivals in 2018. Set in intimate surrounds, experience the rejuvenating power of chamber music coupled with the stunning vistas of Margaret River, Western Australia and Dunkeld, in Victoria’s Southern Grampians.
“A superb musical feast...” Dunkeld Festival Guest
Margaret River Weekend of Music Friday 6 – Sunday 8 April 2018
Dunkeld Festival of Music Friday 13 – Sunday 15 April 2018 Sunday 15 – Tuesday 17 April 2018
Savour the best of the spectacular Western Australian wine region with a great musical adventure at Voyager Estate, Vasse Felix and Clairault | Streicker Wines and Cape Lodge. With matched food and wines from the region’s finest wineries, enjoy a feast for the senses as the Quartet presents a compelling program of chamber music. The ASQ will be joined by Australia’s acclaimed soprano, Sara Macliver and Dean Newcomb, Principal Clarinet, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, to present works by Schubert, Handel and Mozart.
For more information or to book today visit asq.com.au or call 1800 040 444.
Relish moments of tranquillity and calm at the ASQ’s Dunkeld Festival of Music. With intimate concerts in the charming Mt Sturgeon Woolshed and Myers’ Library and warm hospitality by the iconic Royal Mail Hotel, tickets to this festival are in high demand. Among the program highlights, pianist Brenda Jones and clarinettist Dean Newcomb, join the Quartet to perform two masterpieces by Brahms – his glorious Piano Quintet in F minor opus 34 and his heart-warming Clarinet Quintet.
Single ticket prices Available from 1 December 2017 Adelaide Std $79, Conc $60, U30 $30 BASS 131 246, bass.net.au Brisbane Std $79, Conc $60, U30 $30 QTIX 136 246, qtix.com.au Canberra Std $75, Conc $65, U30 $30 ASQ 1800 040 444 , asq.com.au Melbourne Std $85, Conc $65, U30 $30 Melbourne Recital Centre Box Office (03) 9699 3333 melbournerecital.com.au
Perth Std $85, Conc $65, U30 $30 Ticketek 1300 795 012 ticketek.com.au Sydney Std $85, Conc $65, U30 $30 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. Transaction fees may apply.
Official Partners Major Partner
Government Supporters
Major Patrons
Leader Sponsor
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
Cellist Sponsors
Violist Sponsors
PHILIP BACON
MRS JOAN LYONS & MRS DIDY McLAURIN
PETER & LYNDSEY HAWKINS
Instrument Partner
National Season Partners National Wine Sponsor
New South Wales & Victoria Tour Partner
Sydney Accommodation Sponsor
Queensland Co-presenting Partner
Canberra Co-presenting Partner
Luxury Menswear Partner
Other Partners
National Season 2018 creative – Illustration/animation by Chris Edser. Photography by Jacqui Way. Design & art direction by Cul-de-sac Creative. Printed by Print Solutions SA.
ASQ Board Alexandra Burt Nicholas Callinan AO (Chair) Bruce Cooper Janet Hayes Marisa Mandile Paul Murnane Maria Myers AC Susan Renouf Jeanette Sandford-Morgan OAM Suzanne Stark Angelina Zucco – Chief Executive
Australian String Quartet 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