Sunday, April 17, 7:30 in Mclean:

The Left Bank Quartet with Eric Kutz

Evelyn Elsing (above) can’t make this salon, so they will play Bartok #4 here later. For this performance, Eric Kutz, cellist at UMD, will replace Ms. Elsing.

Program

Igor Stravinsky:
3 Pieces for String Quartet

Ludwig van Beethoven:
Op 130 Danza Tedesca
Op 133 Grosse Fuge
Op 130 Cavatina

“It’s a bit of different order with the Beethoven, but we want to try it out. Stravinsky loved the Grosse Fuge above all else, and so there’s a bit of connection there.”

The Left Bank Quartet

The Left Bank Quartet comprises David Salness and Sally Mclain, violin; Katherine Murdock, viola. For this performance, Eric Kutz will replace Evelyn Elsing.

These four musicians, with their diverse and colorful backgrounds, came together through the auspices of the Theater Chamber Players, and rather unexpectedly discovered the joys of a vibrant and enthusiastic collaboration. They have been The Left Bank Quartet since 1999, taking their name from the fact that the Kennedy Center, their first regular venue, is situated on the left bank of the Potomac River.

Their combined experiences include participation in the major festivals of the musical world — Aspen, Banff, Chautauqua, Marlboro, Mostly Mozart, Prussia Cove, Ravinia, Santa Fe, Spoleto and Yellow Barn, to name just a few. Their teaching experiences, collaborations, national and international tours, recital and concerto performances, and success in international competitions give this quartet a rich and varied tapestry as they weave their musical message.

The Left Bank Quartet’s repertoire encompasses an eclectic range, with quartets of composers such as Chavez, Crumb, Durkó, Dutilleux, Ginastera, Jalbert, Kirchner, Kurtág, Korngold, Ligeti, Meriläinen, Nancarrow and Revueltes augmenting the standard fare. Compositions written for and premiered by the quartet include Mark Wilson’s Time Variations, (Capstone Records) and String Quartet No. 4 by Lawrence Moss, recently released on the Innova label.  Gramaphone Magazine’s review praised the composition for its “charm” and “dazzle,” stating, “Moss uses the instruments with idiomatic mastery, ranging from kittenish endearments to electric flashes of energy . . . played by the Left Bank Quartet with brilliant focus and timbral variety . . . .”

You can read about cellist Eric Kutz at the University of Maryland website here