December 4, 2008
Lauded Harlem Quartet to play Meany Hall on Dec. 9
The Harlem Quartet, the ensemble whose mission is to engage young and new audiences and to advance diversity in the world of classical music, will appear in Meany Hall at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, as part of the UW World Series.
The African-American and Latino quartet is composed of four first-place laureates in the Sphinx contest — a competition held every year in Ann Arbor and Detroit, Mich., and open to all black and Latino string players residing in the United States. Quartet members are Ilmar Gavilan and Melissa White on violin, Juan-Miguel Hernandez on viola and Desmond Neysmith on cello.
The program will include La Oracion del Torero by Joaquin Turina, String Quartet No. 3 by Walter Piston, Quartettsatz in C Minor, D. 703 by Franz Schubert, Take the ‘A’ Train by Billy Strayhorn, and Hellbound Highball from At the Octoroon Balls by Wynton Marsalis.
In addition to being avid chamber musicians, the quarter members also are seasoned solo artists. Individually, quartet members have appeared with the New York Philharmonic, Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Sinaloa de las Artes (Mexico) symphonies and the Boston Pops, among others. As an ensemble, the quartet has performed in many cities across the U.S., including concerts in Detroit, New York, Atlanta, and Boston.
The quartet, its press notes state, is equally at home playing classical works and more modern compositions such as those by William “Billy” Strayhorn and Wynton Marsalis. The group debuted at Carnegie Hall to rave reviews and also performed at the Apollo Theater in 2006. The following year the quartet released its first professional CD, Take the ‘A’ Train, with the White Pine Music label. Their second CD is expected soon.
The quartet has a unique mission: to advance diversity in classical music while engaging young and new audiences through the discovery and presentation of varied repertoire, particularly highlighting works by composers of color.
Ticket-holders are invited to come early and learn more about the performance at a free, 30-minute pre-show conversation at 7:10 p.m. in the main auditorium.
Tickets are $33 ($30 for subscribers and $20 for students) and may be purchased by phone or in person through the UW Arts Ticket Office, at 206-543-4880, or online at www.uwworldseries.org.
