The Ariel Quartet’s 2015-16 CCM Concert Series Comes to a Conclusion on March 1

CCM’s internationally-acclaimed string quartet-in-residence the Ariel Quartet concludes its 2015–16 concert series at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, in Corbett Auditorium.

Order tickets online here.

The program will include Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet in F Major, Op. 77, No. 2; Béla Bartók’s String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7; and Johannes Brahms’ String Quartet Op. 51, No. 2. Tickets for this performance are on sale now.

The Ariel Quartet is comprised of Alexandra Kazovsky, violin; Amit Even-Tov, cello; Gershon Gerchikov, violin; and Jan Grüning, viola. The Quartet was formed in Israel 17 years ago when its members were young students, and they have been playing together ever since. Recently awarded the prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award, the Quartet serves as the string quartet-in-residence at CCM where they direct the chamber music program and perform their own annual series of concerts.

• Download the program notes.

The Ariel Quartet’s March 1 performance is dedicated to the loving memory of CCM emeritus faculty member Peter Kamnitzer, who served as violist for the legendary LaSalle Quartet from 1949 until the ensemble’s retirement in 1988. Kamnitzer passed away in Israel on Feb. 23, 2016, at the age of 93. As a member of the LaSalle Quartet, Kamnitzer helped to cement CCM’s reputation on the international stage. This performance is presented in his honor. You can learn more about Kamnitzer here.

Performance Time
8 p.m. Tuesday, March 1

Location
Corbett Auditorium, CCM Village,
University of Cincinnati

Purchasing Tickets
Tickets are $25 for general admission, $15 for non-UC students and FREE for UC students with valid ID.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online now through our e-Box Office! Visit ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice for CCM Box Office hours and location.

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 campus of the University of Cincinnati. 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 and Musical Theatre Program Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Community Partner: ArtsWave

The Ariel Quartet’s 2015-16 CCM concert series is made possible by the generous contributions of Anonymous, The Estate of Mr. William A. Friedlander, Mrs. William A. Friedlander, Dr. & Mrs. Randolph L. Wadsworth, Mr. & Mrs. J. David Rosenberg, Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen, Mr. & Mrs. Paul G. Sittenfeld, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman and Mr. & Mrs. Frank Bloom.

The Ariel Quartet’s Beethoven Cycle Opens to Rave Reviews

The Ariel Quartet‘s complete tour of Beethoven’s string quartets commenced last evening and the opening performance of “The Cycle“ was met with rave reviews!

In her write-up for Music in Cincinnati, Mary Ellyn Hutton writes, “Evident at once in any performance by the Ariel Quartet are the differing personalities of its members. Kazovsky is sweeping and demonstrative. Gershon is pointed and elegant. Violist Grüning radiates confidence and control, while cellist Even-Tov is animated, with facial expressions to match. And how beautifully they come together to make music.” Read the full review here.

In her review for the Cincinnati Enquirer, Janelle Gelfand writes, “One could marvel at their pinpoint attack and cutoffs, performed for maximum dramatic effect, sometimes with flinging bows. The slow movement was phrased with profound beauty, and the players breathed together as one.” Read the full review here.

iSPYCiNCY.com also provides a video teaser for “The Cycle” in its recap of CCM’s Moveable Feast. Watch the video here.

Earlier this week, CityBeat published an in-depth feature on the Ariel Quartet’s Beethoven Cycle. Read the full article here.

“The Cycle” continues at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25 Thursday, Feb. 20. Learn more about the performance here.

The Ariel Quartet’s Beethoven Cycle Commences With Series-Opening Concerts on Jan. 23 and 25!

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.

The Ariel Quartet’s Inaugural CCM Concert Series Concludes on April 9

The Ariel String Quartet at CCM. Courtesy of The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour.

The internationally acclaimed Ariel Quartet brings its first season in residence at CCM to a conclusion with a concert at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, in UC’s Robert J. Werner Recital Hall.

The Quartet will be joined by distinguished guest artist David Geringas, cello, for Anatolijus Senderovas’ David’s Song for Cello and String Quartet and Alexander Glazunov’s String Quintet in A Major, Op. 39.

The program will also feature Beethoven’s Quartet No. 1 in F Major, Op. 18.

Tickets are on sale now.

Ariel String Quartet’s Inaugural CCM Concert Series Continues Dec. 4

The Ariel String Quartet at CCM. Courtesy of The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour

The Ariel String Quartet‘s inaugural CCM concert series continues at 8 p.m. next Tuesday, Dec. 4 in UC’s Robert J. Werner Recital Hall. Winners of the Fischoff Grand Prize, the Quartet’s program is scheduled to include:

• Erwin Schulhoff: String Quartet No.1
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, KV 575
• Johannes Brahms: Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34 (featuring James Tocco, piano)

Last month, the Quartet visited CET, Cincinnati Public Television to record an episode of Showcase with Barbara Kellar. You can view the entire episode here.

Earlier last month, Musical America also featured the Ariel Quartet in its New Artist Spotlight! You can view the profile here.

CCM Alumna Featured in April 2012 Issue of ‘Opera News’

CCM alumna Audrey Luna.

Congratulations to CCM alumna Audrey Luna (MM ’03, AD ’05) on her spotlight in the April 2012 issue of Opera News! Born in Salem, Oregon, the soprano studied with Barbara Honn during her time at CCM. You can read Luna’s Opera News “Sound Bite” spotlight here.