The Ariel Quartet Welcomes Guest Artist Yura Lee for March 26 Concert at CCM

The Ariel Quartet concludes its 2018-19 concert series at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) by showcasing the works of three masters of chamber music at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, in the acoustically stunning Corbett Auditorium. Tickets to the performance are on sale now and available for purchase online.

The concert opens with Ludwig van Beethoven’s joyous String Quartet No. 5 in A Major, Op. 18, which was modeled after Mozart’s String Quartet No. 18 in A Major, K. 464.

Next on the program is Robert Schumann’s intensely expressive String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 41, No. 1.

Guest artist Yura Lee. Photo by Giorgia Bertazzi.

Finally, the Ariel Quartet will be joined by guest artist Yura Lee, viola, for a performance of Johannes Brahms’ magisterial String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 111.

A performer of international renown, Lee has won top prizes for both violin and viola in numerous competitions. At the age of 12, she became the youngest artist ever to receive the Debut Artist of the Year prize at the “Performance Today” awards given by National Public Radio. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant given by Lincoln Center in New York City. Her CD with Reinhard Goebel and the Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie, titled Mozart in Paris (Oehms Classics), received the prestigious Diapason d’Or Award in France. Learn more about Lee at www.yuralee.com.

Described by the American Record Guide as “a consummate ensemble gifted with utter musicality and remarkable interpretive power,” the Ariel Quartet has earned a glowing international reputation. The ensemble is comprised of Alexandra “Sasha” Kazovsky, violin; Amit Even-Tov, cello; Gershon Gerchikov, violin; and Jan Grüning, viola. The group was formed in Israel in 1998 and has served as CCM’s string quartet-in-residence since 2012. Learn more about the Quartet by visiting www.arielquartet.com. Complete program information for the March 26 concert is below.

Repertoire

• BEETHOVEN: String Quartet No. 5 in A Major, Op. 18
• SCHUMANN: String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 41, No. 1
• INTERMISSION
• BRAHMS: String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 111

Performance Time

8 p.m. Tuesday, March 26

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. General admission and non-UC student tickets are on sale now. UC students can obtain one free ticket each with valid ID beginning Friday, March. 22.

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 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 U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.

____________________

The Ariel Quartet’s 2018-19 CCM concert series is made possible by the generous contributions of an anonymous donor, The Estate of Mr. William A. Friedlander, Mrs. William A. Friedlander, Dr. Randolph L. Wadsworth, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bloom, Mr. and Mrs. J. David Rosenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Santen, Mr. and Mrs. Paul G. Sittenfeld, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman, Dr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Striker and Mrs. Harry M. Hoffheimer.

Featured image at top: Photo/Saverio Truglia
Inset image: Photo/Giorgia Bertazzi

CCM Announces 2017-18 Concert Schedule For The Ariel Quartet

Ariel Quartet members Gershon Gerchikov, Amit Even-Tov, Jan Grüning and Alexandra “Sasha” Kazovsky. Photography by Robert A. Flischel.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) proudly presents the award-winning Ariel String Quartet in a four-part concert series, which commences on Tuesday, Sept. 26, and continues on Nov. 14, March 20 and April 26. Dubbed “rock stars of the classical scene,” by the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Ariel Quartet’s energetic performances and soulful interpretations have impressed concert goers throughout the world.

The Ariel Quartet is comprised of Alexandra “Sasha” Kazovsky, violin; Amit Even-Tov, cello; Gershon Gerchikov, violin; and Jan Grüning, viola. The group was formed in Israel in 1998 and has served as CCM’s string quartet-in-residence since 2012.

The Ariel Quartet opens its 2017-18 concert series with a program dedicated to the memory of CCM Professor Emeritus Walter Levin at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, in the Robert J. Werner Recital Hall. A founding member and first violinist of the legendary LaSalle Quartet, Levin passed away in Chicago on Aug. 4, 2017, at the age of 92. During his 33-year tenure at CCM, Levin and his colleagues in the LaSalle Quartet greatly enhanced CCM’s international reputation while inspiring generations of future artists and scholars.

The members of the Ariel Quartet count themselves among the innumerable musicians influenced by Levin’s expertise. Prior to their residency at CCM, the members of the Ariel Quartet spent a formative year in Basel, Switzerland, studying with Levin. When the Ariel Quartet was named string quartet-in-residence at CCM in 2012, the appointment was seen as a natural extension of the LaSalle Quartet’s musical legacy. In the Chicago Sun-Times’ featured obituary, Gerchikov describes Levin as “incredibly influential, inspiring and demanding.” When Levin dispensed with a compliment, Gerchikov recalls, “You were in heaven.”

This season’s highlights also include collaborations with Donald Weilerstein, Vivian Hornik Weilerstein and CCM emeritus faculty member Allen Otte. The season also features the regional premiere of a new piece by John Harbison, co-commissioned by the Ariel Quartet with the generous support of Ann and Harry Santen. Complete performance repertoire is listed below. You can learn more about the Ariel Quartet by visiting www.arielquartet.com.
____________________

CCM’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE SEASON
String Quartet-in-Residence Concert Series

8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26
BEETHOVEN, KURTÁG AND SCHUMANN
The Ariel Quartet

BEETHOVEN: String Quartet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2
G. KURTÁG: 12 Microludes for String Quartet, Op. 13
R. SCHUMANN: String Quartet No. 3 in A Major, Op. 41, No. 3

Location: Robert J. Werner Recital Hall
____

8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14
JANÁCEK, MOZART AND SHOSTAKOVICH
The Ariel Quartet
Featuring guest artists Donald Weilerstein, viola, and Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, piano

JANÁCEK: String Quartet No. 1 (Kreutzer Sonata)
MOZART: String Quintet No. 4 in G Minor, K. 516
SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57

Location: Robert J. Werner Recital Hall
____

8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30
8 p.m. Thursday, April 26 (date change)
HAYDN, BARTÓK AND CAGE
The Ariel Quartet
Featuring CCM emeritus faculty member Allen Otte, percussion

HAYDN: String Quartet in D Major, Op. 71, No. 2
BARTÓK: String Quartet No. 3, Sz. 85
CAGE: Five (1988)
BRAHMS: String Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1

Location: Corbett Auditorium
____

8 p.m. Tuesday, March 20
MOZART, HARBISON AND BEETHOVEN
The Ariel Quartet
Featuring John Harbison’s String Quartet No. 6, co-commissioned by the Ariel Quartet with the generous support of Ann and Harry Santen

MOZART: String Quartet No. 22 in B-flat major, K. 589
J. HARBISON: String Quartet No. 6 (regional premiere)
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131

Location: Corbett Auditorium
____________________

Purchasing Subscriptions and Single Tickets
Subscription packages are now available for the Ariel Quartet’s full 2017-18 concert series. Concert goers can subscribe to the entire series for $75 and save 25% off single ticket prices.

Single tickets go on sale on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $15 for non-UC students and FREE for UC students with valid ID.

Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office or over the telephone at 513-556-4183. 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.
____________________

CCM Season Presenting Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

The Ariel Quartet’s 2017-18 CCM concert series is made possible by the generous contributions of an anonymous donor, The Estate of Mr. William A. Friedlander, Mrs. William A. Friedlander, Dr. and Mrs. Randolph L. Wadsworth, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bloom, Mr. and Mrs. J. David Rosenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Santen, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman and Mr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Striker.

CCM’s Music for Food Concert Series Continues Sunday, April 3, 2016

CCM’s Music for Food concert series continues at 4 p.m. this Sunday, April 3. Student and faculty performers will use their artistry to fight hunger through this new chamber music series, which benefits Cincinnati’s Freestore Foodbank.

Organized by CCM’s string quartet-in-residence, the Ariel Quartet, along with faculty artists Lydia Brown and and Gwen Coleman Detwiler, the performance takes place in Room 300 of CCM’s Dieterle Vocal Arts Center. This intimate space provides the perfect setting for an afternoon of chamber music!

In lieu of paid admission, concert attendees are asked to provide non-perishable food items or a cash donation. All proceeds benefit the Freestore Foodbank.

About Cincinnati’s Freestore Foodbank
The Freestore Foodbank is the largest emergency food and services provider to children and families in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. The organization distributes 20 million meals annually to low-income individuals and families. The Freestore Foodbank supports more than 250 community partners in 20 counties throughout Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, including food kitchens, homeless shelters, emergency food pantries and social service centers.

By providing emergency food distribution, the Freestore Foodbank responds to the issue of poverty and food insecurity in our community and provides an array of services (emergency clothing, housing services, SNAP assistance, Medicaid outreach and others) aimed at creating self-reliance. The Freestore Foodbank is a member of Feeding America and United Way.

The Freestore Foodbank is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more by visiting www.freestorefoodbank.org.

About Music for Food
Music for Food is a musician-led initiative for local hunger relief. The organization’s concerts raise resources and awareness in the fight against hunger, empowering all musicians who wish to use their artistry to further social justice.

Now in its sixth season, Music for Food has created over 250,000 meals through donations made at concerts on behalf of more than a dozen hunger-relief organizations. Started in Boston, Music for Food now has chapters in nine US cities. More than 100 artists and ensembles have performed for Music for Food worldwide.

Music for Food is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Learn more by visiting www.musicforfoodboston.org.

Performance Time
4 p.m. Sunday, April 3

Location
Room 300, Dieterle Vocal Arts Center
CCM Village, University of Cincinnati

Admission
Non-perishable food items or a donation to the Freestore Foodbank. Suggested donation: $20 general, $15 students.

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.

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.

____________________

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.

CCM’s 2015-16 Subscription Packages Are On Sale Now. Plan Your Season With Our New Brochure Today!

Established in 1867, the nationally ranked and internationally renowned University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music is a preeminent institution for the performing and media arts.

Click here to view CCM’s 2015-16 Season Brochure.

Each year, our talented young artists and world-class faculty and staff members collaborate on an unparalleled series of performing arts events.

This year, we proudly present over 50 major concert and theatre productions, ranging from all-time classics to modern Broadway blockbusters.

Whether you prefer charming operas or thrilling dramas, stunning symphonies or swinging jazz, old favorites or world premieres, there’s something for you at CCM this season.

Join us for a performance and see for yourself why critics and audiences alike can’t stop talking about our resident artists and “stars of tomorrow!”

Plan your season today by downloading a digital copy of CCM’s 2015-16 brochure. Physical copies are available at CCM’s Box Office, as well!

Subscription and flex ticket packages are on sale now. Single Concert Series and Ariel Series tickets go on sale beginning Aug. 24, 2015. Single Mainstage Series tickets go on sale beginning Aug. 31, 2015.

For more details about CCM’s 2015-16 performance schedule, contact the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183 or visit ccm.uc.edu.

____________________

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

CCM recognizes and thanks the following corporations, foundations and individuals for their generous support of $10,000 and above:

Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust
Scholarship and Resident Artist Sponsor

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
CCM/CSO Diversity Fellowship Sponsor

The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation
Season Presenting Sponsor, Musical Theatre Program Sponsor & Event Sponsor

The Corbett Endowment at CCM
Dance Department Supporter & All-Steinway School Sponsor

ArtsWave
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
H. Wayne Ferguson Family Foundation
The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation
Frances R. Luther Charitable Trust
Community Partners

Macy’s
Mainstage Season Production Sponsor

Mr. & Mrs. Edward S. Rosenthal
Opera Department Sponsor

The Joseph and Frances Jones Poetker Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation, Ritter & Randolph, LLC, Corporate Counsel
Visiting Artists Sponsor

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. Thomas E. Stegman
Ariel Quartet Sponsors

Jan Rogers
Willard and Jean Mulford Charitable Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation
Choral Studies Sponsors

Ms. Margaret A. Straub & Mr. Neil R. Artman
Studio Drama Series Sponsor

____________________

A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, CCM is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio.

All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events, please visit us online at ccm.uc.edu.

The Ariel Quartet’s Beethoven Cycle Concludes with Performances on March 25, 27 and 29

Join us next week for the stunning conclusion to the Ariel Quartet’s Beethoven Cycle! The Ariel Quartet will finish its first complete tour of Beethoven’s string quartets with a trio of performances on March 25, 27 and 29.

To celebrate the occasion, we are delighted to present an excerpt of Beethoven’s String Quartet in F Minor Op. 95, “Serioso,” recorded live in CCM’s Corbett Auditorium in January of 2014. Watch the video embed below or view it on YouTube here!

Please see the schedule below for complete details.

CCM Announces Revised Performance Schedule for the Ariel Quartet’s Beethoven Cycle

CCM is pleased to announce a revised performance schedule for the remaining installments of the Ariel Quartet’s Beethoven Cycle. A make-up date of Tuesday, March 25, has been added to this concert series, necessitated by the weather-related cancellation of the Quartet’s Jan. 25 performance.

The original order of the repertoire will be followed for the remainder of the Beethoven Cycle, so the program originally announced for Jan. 25 will now be performed on Thursday, Feb. 20. Please see the revised schedule below for complete details.

Concert ticket holders affected by the University of Cincinnati’s closure on Jan. 25 can contact CCM Box Office Manager Jeanne Rose at 513-556-9443 or rosej2@ucmail.uc.edu for additional assistance.

CCM Video: The Ariel String Quartet

The excitement of the Ariel Quartet’s debut season at CCM continues at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, in UC’s Robert J. Werner Recital Hall! The performance is scheduled to include Hugo Wolff’s Italian Serenade, CCM composer Joel Hoffman’s String Quartet No. 3 and Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127.

Experience the phenomenon for yourself! Tickets are on sale now.

The Ariel Quartet’s Inaugural Concert Series Continues on Jan. 15

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

The internationally acclaimed Ariel String Quartet continues its debut season as quartet-in-residence at CCM with a performance at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, in UC’s Robert J. Werner Recital Hall. Tickets are on sale now.

Winners of the Fischoff Grand Prize, the Ariel Quartet was featured in a recent Cincinnati Enquirer article spotlighting “10 Who Are Advancing the Arts.” The Enquirer’s Janelle Gelfand writes, “The four musicians are turning heads for their fresh approach to chamber music, both in their exhilarating performances and in their teaching style. They are establishing a new era that could rival that of the LaSalle.” You can read the entire Enquirer article online here.

The Ariel Quartet’s Jan. 15 performance is scheduled to include Hugo Wolff’s Italian Serenade, CCM composer Joel Hoffman’s String Quartet No. 3 and Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127.

Ariel Quartet’s CCM Debut Receives Rave Reviews

The acclaimed Ariel String Quartet made its official debut as a CCM quartet-in-residence before a capacity crowd in UC’s Robert J. Werner Recital Hall last night.

“If the artistry of their playing and the electricity in the hall are any indication, the Ariel has the potential to revive the glory days of the LaSalle Quartet, quartet-in-residence from 1953 to 1988, the last full-time resident quartet at the school,” Janelle Gelfand writes for the Cincinnati Enquirer. You can read her full review here.

“Violinists Gershon Gerchikov and Alexandra Kazovsky, violist Jan Grüning and cellist Amit Even-Tov play with energy, consummate technique and an esprit de corps that bode exceedingly well for CCM and the community,” Mary Ellyn Hutton writes for Music in Cincinnati. You can read her full review here.

If you missed last evening’s performance, be sure to mark your calendars for Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. Tickets are still available for the next installment in the Ariel Quartet’s 2012-13 CCM concert series… but they won’t be for long!