From left to right: Amit Even-Tov, Jan Grüning, Alexandra Kazovsky and Gershon Gerchikov are the Ariel Quartet. Photography by Saverio Truglia.
CCM proudly presents the opening concerts of the Ariel Quartet’s first complete Beethoven Cycle on Thursday, Jan. 23, and Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014 Thursday, Feb. 20. Both performances begin at 8 p.m. in CCM’s Corbett Auditorium.
Through the course of this six-part concert series – otherwise known as “The Cycle” – CCM’s acclaimed string quartet-in-residence will perform all 17 of Ludwig van Beethoven’s string quartets. Taken as a whole, these works are widely regarded as the greatest achievement in the history of western chamber music.
The program for the Ariel Quartet’s series-opening concert on Thursday, Jan. 23, includes Beethoven’s String Quartet in F Major, Op. 18, No. 1; String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 95 (“Serioso”); and String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 127.
The Saturday, Jan. 25, Thursday, Feb. 20 program includes Beethoven’s String Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2; String Quartet in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3 (“Razumovsky”); and String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135.
The quartet debated about how to present “The Cycle,” whether to play it in chronological order or to break it apart and program works from different periods into each concert, members explain.
Beethoven’s life and works are frequently divided into three general periods: a formative period lasting until around 1802, a middle period lasting until around 1812 and a transcendent third or late period lasting until 1827. For their first complete cycle, the members of the Ariel Quartet decided to present one composition from each period during each concert. Every concert in “The Cycle” will open with one of Beethoven’s Opus 18 quartets, the first set of string quartets he composed during his early period.
The members of the Quartet explain, “Most concerts will present three works in chronological order, offering audiences a rare opportunity to listen to all three periods back to back. We feel this will allow each concert to showcase the development of Beethoven as a composer, enabling our audience to experience this music to its fullest.”
“It’s not often that we have the opportunity to experience the complete oeuvre of a creative individual’s output,” observes Peter Landgren, dean and Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music at CCM, who worked closely with the Ariel Quartet to plan this concert series. “‘The Cycle’ provides just such an opportunity.”
“The Cycle” will be held in UC’s acoustically stunning Corbett Auditorium with performances scheduled for 8 p.m. on Jan. 23 and 25, Feb. 20 and 22, as well as March 25, 27 and 29, 2014.
Learn more about “The Cycle” by visiting uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=18968.
Subscription packages and single tickets are on sale now. Subscribe to the full concert series for just $90 and save 25 percent off single ticket prices. See below for more information.
About the Ariel Quartet
Characterized by its youth, brilliant playing and soulful interpretations, the Ariel Quartet has quickly earned a glowing international reputation. Previously the resident ensemble in the New England Conservatory’s prestigious Professional String Quartet Training Program, the Quartet was named quartet-in-residence at CCM in 2012, a remarkable accomplishment for such a young ensemble and a testament to the Quartet’s skill and dedication to its craft.
The Quartet performs widely in Israel, Europe and North America at such venues as the Louvre in Paris, Kaisersaal in Frankfurt, Jordan Hall in Boston and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Winners of the Fischoff Grand Prize and recent recipients of the Cleveland Quartet Award, the members of the Ariel Quartet first started playing together as youths in Israel and have been performing around the world since.
Learn more about the Ariel Quartet by visiting uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=14923.
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THE ARIEL QUARTET PRESENTS “THE CYCLE”
January 2014 Performance Schedule
8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23
Beethoven: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 18, No. 1
I. Allegro con brio
II. Adagio affettuoso ed appasionato
III. Scherzo: Allegro molto
IV. Allegro
Beethoven: String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 95 (“Serioso”)
I. Allegro con brio
II. Allegretto ma non troppo
III. Allegro assai vivace ma serioso—Più Allegro
IV. Larghetto espressivo—Allegretto agitato—Allegro
Beethoven: String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 127
I. Maestoso—Allegro
II. Adagio, ma non troppo e molto cantabile—
Andante con moto
III. Scherzo: Vivace
IV. Finale. Allegro
8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20
Beethoven: String Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2
I. Allegro
II. Adagio cantabile
III. Scherzo: Allegro
IV. Allegro molto, quasi Presto
Beethoven: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3 (“Razumovsky”)
I. Introduzione. Andante con moto—Allegro vivace
II. Andante con moto quasi Allegretto
III. Menuetto: Grazioso—Trio
IV. Allegro molto
Beethoven: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135
I. Allegretto
II. Vivace
III. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo
IV. Grave, ma non troppo tratto—Allegro
Location
Corbett Auditorium, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati
Purchasing Subscriptions and Single Tickets
Experience “The Cycle” in its entirety for just $90 per subscription, a savings of 25 percent off single ticket prices. Subscription packages can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office or over the telephone at 513-556-4183.
Single tickets are $20 for general audiences and $15 for non-UC students. A limited number of UC student rush tickets are FREE beginning one hour prior to each concert. Single tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice.
Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.
For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the new U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.
For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.
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CCM Season Presenting Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation
Community Partner: ArtsWave
The Ariel Quartet’s CCM concert series is made possible by the generous contributions of The Corbett Foundation, Dr. & Mrs. Randolph L. Wadsworth, Mr. & Mrs. William A. Friedlander, Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman and Mr. & Mrs. J. David Rosenberg.
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