The Jess Trio
Tuesday, October 16, 2001
Since making its critically acclaimed American debut in 1988, while the artists were only in their early twenties, the Jess Trio has matured into a world-class ensemble of the first rank. The three prize-winning siblings, Johannes, piano, Elisabeth, violin, and Stefan Kropfitsch, cello, represent the finest in the rich Viennese tradition of outstanding musicianship. The Trio rediscovered the original version of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9, "Pesther Carneval," making the piece's world premiere recording. The Trio performs annually in its own series in Vienna's major concert halls, and has appeared throughout the world in major musical capitals and at musical festivals. The artists are all professors at leading musical institutions in Vienna. The ensemble's program will include: Haydn: Trio in G Major, "Gypsy" Hummel: Trio Op. 12 Brahms: Piano Trio in C Major, Op. 87.
The José White String Quartet
Monday, January 18, 2002
The José White String Quartet was formed in the mid-90s when the members were playing as principals with the symphony orchestra in Aquascalientes, Mexico. With three of the players having been born in Cuba (the other in California), the members decided to pay tribute to José White, indisputably Cuba's greatest violinist of the 19th and early 20th century. Violist Jerry Horner, who has coached the quartet, expressed the opinion that "in spite of their youth, it is certainly one of the best quartets in Latin America and its potential is enormous." His views were borne out when the quartet won the 2001 Prize in Mexico's leading chamber music international competition in Guanajuato. In addition to the standard quartet literature, the ensemble offers some little-known works by composers of Latin American origin. The ensemble's program will include: Beethoven: String Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2 Cervantes: Six Cuban Dances Bartok: String Quartet No. 5.
The Kocian String Quartet
Tuesday, March 12, 2002
The quartet was formed in 1975 and names in honor of the Czech violin virtuoso and pedagogue Jaroslav Kocian (1883-1950). Winning the 1981 artistic prize of the Czech Association for Chamber Music, the quartet was featured often at the Prague Spring Festival and in concert cycles of the Czech Philharmonic. The quartet's tours have brought its extraordinary musicianship to audiences around the world. Besides the standard literature, the ensemble features music of major Czech composers, such as Dvorak, Smetana, Janaczek, and Martinu, as well as lesser known Czech works from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Numerous critically acclaimed recordings by the Kocian Quartet for various international labels range from Haydn and Mozart to the best-selling Dvorak Quintet with Boris Krajny. The ensemble's program will include: Schubert: String Quartet in C Minor Mendelssohn: String Quartet in A Major, Op. 113, No. 1 Janacek: String Quartet No. 2 "Intimate Letters."
