Event Info
New Orford String Quartet presents Pizzicato!
Four elite orchestral leaders perform chamber music at the highest level
7:30pm - 9:30pm
$28.25
Event Description
The New Orford String Quartet returns to the Alix Goolden Performance Hall with a captivating program showcasing the diverse ways in which pizzicato, a technique where the strings are plucked instead of bowed, is used to share the expressive landscapes of string quartet music:
- Caroline Shaw’s “Blueprint” experiments with pizzicato textures, creating intricate rhythmic patterns that weave a mesmerizing sonic tapestry.
- Ana Sokolovic’s “Commedia delle’arte” utilizes pizzicato to evoke the playful, lively spirit of the Italian theater, adding a delightful rhythmic energy to the music.
- Beethoven’s Harp quartet incorporates pizzicato passages to enhance the ethereal and dreamlike atmosphere of the piece.
- Maurice Ravel’s magnificent string quartet takes the listener through a whole beautiful and distinctive sound world as heard through the prism of Ravel’s gorgeous harmonic language.
Throughout this program, pizzicato serves as a powerful tool, showcasing the expressive possibilities and adding a unique sonic dimension to the string quartet repertoire.
About the New Orford String Quartet
- Andrew Wan, violin, concertmaster of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
- Jonathan Crow, violin, Concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Conservatory of Music alum
- Sharon Wei, viola, Associate professor of viola at Western University
- Brian Manker, cello, Principal Cellist of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Four musicians with equally stellar pedigrees formed the New Orford String Quartet with the goal of developing a new model for a touring string quartet. Their concept – to bring four elite orchestral leaders and soloists together on a regular basis over many years to perform chamber music at the highest level – has resulted in a quartet that maintains a remarkably fresh perspective while bringing a palpable sense of joy to each performance. The Toronto Start has described this outcome as “nothing short of electrifying.”
Learn more about the New Orford String Quartet at https://www.neworford.com/about
Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to the right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department at bookings@vcm.bc.ca Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.
Venue
Alix Goolden Performance Hall
In-Person Event
Thu. May 16th 2024 + Add to Calendar
Alix Goolden Performance Hall
