Muir Quartet

October 8, 2002
Muir String Quartet

Peter Zazofsky, violin
Lucia Lin, violin
Steven Ansell, viola
Michael Reynolds, cello

Beginning its 23rd anniversary this season, the Muir String Quartet has long been acknowledged as one of the worlds most powerful and insightful ensembles, distinguishing itself among audiences and critics with its exhilarating involvement (Boston Globe), impeccable voicing and intonation (San Francisco Examiner) and unbridled musicality (American Record Guide). The quartetappears annually on the major chamber music series throughout North America and Europe.

The quartet recently premiered works by esteemed American composers Richard Danielpour (Feast of Fools for bassoon and string quartet), Lucas Foss (String Quartet #4), Ezra Laderman (String Quartet #9), and Joelle Wallach (String Quartet #3).

In keeping with the quartets namesake, the great naturalist, explorer and Sierra Club Founder, John Muir, the quartet donates proceeds from its much-touted EcoClassics CDs to a variety of environmental and conservation organizations. Its recording of the Beethoven Quartets (Op. 132 and the Grosse Fugue) on this label received a 1995 Grammy nomination. The most recent EcoClassics release is a mixed repertoire CD with flutist Carol Wincenc and baritone Douglas Webster. The Muir can also be heard on recordings for ADDA/Qualiton and EMI, for which it received two Grand Prix du Disque.

The Muir has been lauded for its stunning performances of complete Beethoven String Quartet cycles in Boston, Providence, Salt Lake City, Bozeman (Montana), the University of Maryland, and on the prestigious Slee Series in Buffalo.

Highlights of recent and upcoming appearances include cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Detroit, Vancouver, Montreal, Seattle, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Toronto, Houston, and Minneapolis. The quartets busy European concert schedule takes them annually throughout Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.

In its commitment to advancing contemporary American music, the Muir Quartet has had commissioned works written for them by such distinguished composers as Joan Tower (Night Fields), Sheila Silver (From Darkness Emerging), Richard Danielpour (Shadow Dances and Psalms of Sorrow featured on CBS Sunday Morning), Richard Wilson (Third String Quartet), and Charles Fussell (Being Music based on poetry of Walt Whitman). The quartet also gave the World Premiere performance of the Native American collaborative work, Circle of Faith, featured on National Public Radio.

Program
Haydn		Quartet in G Major, Op. 76, No. 1
Shostakovich		Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Minor, Op. 138
Schubert		Quartet in G Major, Op. 161