FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dayna Meyer, Manager of Customer and Creative Services 816.561.9999 dayna@chambermusic.org Escher String Quartet with Jason Vieaux, Guitar Opens The Friends of Chamber Music s 2016 17 Season A Kansas City debut September 23, 2016 at 8:00 pm, at the Folly Theater KANSAS CITY, MO (JULY 5, 2016) The Escher String Quartet with Jason Vieaux will make their Kansas City debut on the first night of The Friends of Chamber Music s 41 st Season, September 23 rd at the Folly Theater in downtown Kansas City, MO. They will perform works by Mozart, Bartok, Tárrega, Bach and Boccherini. 1
The Escher String Quartet has received acclaim for their profound musical insight and rare tonal beauty. They continue The Friends of Chamber Music s tradition of bringing quality, award-winning classical music to the heartland audience. The group is a BBC New Generation Artist, and were the 2013 recipients of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. Presently, they serve as the quartet-in-residence at Lincoln Center. They are joined by the virtuoso classical guitarist, Jason Vieaux. Vieaux is arguably the most important classical guitarist performing today, and his solo recording Play won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. Youtube: Mozart K. 421 in D Minor https://youtu.be/lpttj95cpua For high-resolution photos, please visit our Press Page at: http://www.chambermusic.org/press-room/ The Guardian (UK) stated, They are clearly one of the finest quartets of their generation. One of the top young quartets before the public today. This is a group to watch, stated The Washington Post. The concert is comprised of works rarely performed live in the Kansas City-area. Mozart s Quartet in B-flat Major, K. 589 has a brooding character that will shine a spotlight on Escher String Quartet cellist Brook Speltz s elegant tone. The Bartok, Quartet No. 2, Op. 17, is a demanding composition that plays with dichotomies and textures: the first and third movements are subdued, while the middle scherzo is a wild stampede of sound and rhythm. Tárrega s Capricho árabe is a showcase for Jason 2
Vieaux s talent interpreting Spanish guitar classics. Bach s Suite in E Minor, BWV 966 was originally composed for the lute, and has been adapted to suit the guitar. The final performance of the concert Boccherini s Quintet in D for Guitar and Strings, G. 448 brings the Escher String Quartet and Vieaux together. More information about the concert can be found online at www.chambermusic.org Escher String Quartet with Jason Vieaux, guitar The William T. Kemper International Chamber Music Series September 23, 2016 The Folly Theater Mozart Quartet in B-flat Major, K. 589 Bartok Quartet No. 2, Op. 17 Tárrega Capricho árabe Bach Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 (Shortened version) Boccherini Quintet in D for Guitar and Strings, G. 448 Fandango Ticket Information Single tickets on sale now. Purchase tickets online at chambermusic.org, or call our box office at 816.56.9999. Season tickets are still available, including our popular Pick 3 Package. For more information, visit our website at chambermusic.org. Sponsors The William T. Kemper International Chamber Music Series is underwritten, in part, by the William T. Kemper foundation. 3
Additional Information Youth & Student Discounts Our Young Friends program strives to reduce economic barriers to the enjoyment of classical music for children. Tickets for youth aged 18 and under are free for this concert. College students can take advantage of rush pricing: $15 Student Rush tickets are available for purchase at our box office 90-minutes prior to all performances. Social Media Learn more about upcoming concerts, download a season calendar, or purchase your tickets on your smart phone via our mobile-friendly website: www.chambermusic.com. Follow The Friends on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/chambermusickc), Twitter (https://twitter.com/chambermusickc), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/friendsofchambermusic/) for up-to-date concert information and a look behind-the-scenes. THE FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC KANSAS CITY 2016-17 SEASON AT A GLANCE The Friends of Chamber Music box office: 816.561.9999 Single tickets are on sale now. Purchase tickets online at chambermusic.org 4
Escher String Quartet with Jason Vieaux, guitar Friday, September 23 at 8 p.m., Folly Theater Mozart, Bartok, Tárrega, Bach, Boccherini Arnaldo Cohen in recital Friday, October 7 at 8 p.m., Folly Theater Bach/Busoni, Brahms, Chopin Danish String Quartet Friday, October 21 at 8 p.m., 1900 Building Bach, Shostakovich, Beethoven Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Friday, November 4 at 8 p.m., Folly Theater Destination Vienna with Mozart, Schoenberg, Brahms Sequentia Friday, November 18 at 8 p.m., Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral The Monk Sings Pagan: Medieval Songs of Gods, Heroes and Strong Women Stile Antico Friday, December 2 at 8 p.m. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Holiday Program: A Wonderous Mystery: Flemish and German Music Alexei Lubimov in recital with special guest artist Malcolm Bilson Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony Friday, January 20 at 8 p.m., Folly Theater Debussy, Stravinsky, Schubert Hespèrion XXI with Jordi Savall, viola da gamba Friday, February 10 at 8 p.m., Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral The Musical Europe: 1500-1700 Morgenstern Trio Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m., 1900 Building Schubert, Mendelssohn, Ravel 5
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin Saturday, March 18 at 8 p.m. Carlsen Center, JCCC Foreign Affairs with Telemann, Handel, Vivaldi, Bach A partnership with the Performing Arts Series at JCCC Fabio Bidini in recital Saturday, April 1 at 8 p.m., Folly Theater Clementi, Beethoven, Debussy, Schumann Vox Luminis Friday, April 21 at 8 p.m. Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral Stabat Mater Kirill Gerstein in recital Friday, May 5 at 8 p.m., Folly Theater Bach, Brahms, Liszt About The Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City For more than 40 years, The Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City has earned a reputation for excellence that has made it one of the top classical music presenters the country. Introducing new artists, new art forms, and new literature has been an integral part of our history, and an important part of our commitment to the future. Through The Friends, Kansas Citians have been introduced to world-acclaimed artists, many of whom had never been heard in our community. The Friends has grown to comprise three concert series: The International Chamber Music Series, The Master Pianists Series, and The Early Music Series. The Master Pianists Series is considered by many in the industry to be one of the nation s leading series of its kind, and The Friends serves as the region s primary presenter of early music. We promote accessibility through affordable ticket prices, representative of a 6
fraction of the cost of tickets for the same artists on other major concert series across the country. The Young Friends program provides free tickets for students who are 18 and younger. Our goal is to reduce any economic barrier to the enjoyment of classical music in those young people who will be the future of classical music. Our programs reach beyond the boundaries of traditional chamber music and the confines of a concert hall. Over the past four decades, The Friends has presented well over 2000 school concerts, master classes, lectures, panels, films and other outreach activities. Visit chambermusic.org for more information. Please direct all media inquires to Dayna Meyer at 816.561.9999 or dayna@chambermusic.org. 7