PERFORMANCE

PACIFICA QUARTET with Menahem Pressler

Sunday, November 14, 2010
Swasey Chapel | 4pm

Get ready for edge-of-your-seat chamber music. The Sunday Times (London) called the Pacifica Quartet “stupendous, breathtaking virtuosity…intellectual fire.” And joining Pacifica for this Vail Series performance is Menahem Pressler, offering a rare opportunity to hear “a living legend” (Boston Globe). This will be an unforgettable evening of chamber music crafted in a fresh, bold style, with both “vigor, and delicacy” (The New York Times).

ABOUT THE GUEST ARTISTS

Described as “luscious” and “sublime” with “razor-edge technique,” the Pacifica Quartet– with members Simin Ganatra, violin; Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin; Masumi Per Rostad, viola; and Brandon Vamos, cello– is known for its riveting performance style and daring repertory choices. Touring extensively around the world and acclaimed for their recently released works of Elliot Carter, this hot young ensemble has been honored with a long list of prestigious awards, including the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance. Already artists-in-residence at three institutions and members of the University of Illinois faculty, Pacifica Quartet recently was named quartet-in-residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Guest artist and global luminary Menahem Pressler, who joins the Pacifica Quartet on the Swasey Chapel stage for a performance of Robert Schumann’s piano quintet no. 44, is among the world’s most distinguished and honored musicians. As founding member and performance dynamo of the 50-year phenomenon, the Beaux Arts Trio, Pressler has captivated audiences around the world with his larger-than-life command of the piano.

Pacifica Quartet

Menahem Pressler

A CLOSER LOOK

This was an elegant concert for the eye and the ear –floral bouquets of orange, white, and green set off the warm russet of the quartet’s stringed instruments and the understated black of their clothing and the piano. They played with breathtaking virtuosity. Pacifica is well known for being a closely-knit ensemble, and we soon realized they were closer than we knew – the cellist Brandon Vamos and first violinist Simin Ganatra are married and have a young baby, Layla, who was being tended by her grandmother back at the Granville Inn.

After intermission, the group was joined by the legendary Menahem Pressler who strode briskly across the stage to join them in Schubert’s Piano Quintet. It was a great treat, and even more memorable for the Denison piano and chamber music students who had the opportunity to work with Pressler and the members of Pacifica in master classes the following morning.

PHOTOS

 

VIDEOS

Photography courtesy of the artist(s) and The Vail Series.