Emily Carr String Quartet with pianist Sarah Hagen

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Saturday, March 3rd, 2012
7:30 PM

Passion, contemplation and sheer beauty: with an intense programme of two musical masterpieces, the Emily Carr String Quartet takes to the stage with pianist Sarah Hagen.

The evening will begin with Dmitri Shostakovich�s String Quartet No. 8, a brooding and melancholic work reflecting the composer�s dedication: 'In Remembrance of the Victims of Fascism and War'. Composed in 1960, this most-beloved of all his quartets was written while Shostakovich was in Dresdon, deeply moved by seeing the remnants of WWII�s destruction.

Also on the programme is Schumann�s masterwork, his Piano Quintet Opus 44. One of the greatest pieces in the chamber music repertory, the Quintet is a feast of colour, virtuosity, and poetry.


Emily Carr String Quartet


The Emily Carr String Quartet has quickly established itself as one of BC's finest music ensembles. Renowned for its passionate and inspiring performances, critics rave "some of the most intensely driven and eloquently passionate playing I have heard in sometime." "It was a musical experience unlikely soon to be forgotten." (Music in Victoria)

Formed in 2006 by members of the Victoria Symphony, the Emily Carr String Quartet has gone on to performances in the US, Europe and Asia. The ECSQ is committed to the traditional string quartet repertoire as well as promoting new and lesser known works to its audiences.

The ECSQ's strong affiliation with Turkish composer Adnan Saygun resulted in an invitation to perform at the Ankara Music Festival's 100th Anniversary of the birth of Adnan Saygun in February 2007. The quartet's interpretation of Saygun's Third String Quartet garnered praise from audiences and esteemed Turkish composer Muammer Sun. The ECSQ recently recorded Saygun's first quartet on its new CD "Hidden Treasure" which was released in November 2011.

In addition to the ECSQ's concert schedule, the quartet has participated in Artsway, a program which books artists to perform in care facilities throughout the province of BC. The quartet is also active in presenting Concerts for Kids, bringing string quartet music to elementary schools around Victoria.

Constantly searching for a more diverse concert experience, the ECSQ launched a very successful concert series at the Emily Carr House entitled "Musical Bouquets for Emily". The concerts featured readings from Emily Carr's Journal that complimented the music that was to be performed. It was a sold out success.

The ECSQ has studied with members of the St. Lawrence String Quartet at Stanford University and have worked with Henk Guittart and Kolja Lessing while attending the Banff Centre for a winter residency in March 2009.

The Emily Carr String Quartet is inspired by Emily Carr's diverse body of artwork. It represents to them not only an artist's experience of life in Victoria, B.C. but also the spirit of the West coast of Canada. For the honour of bearing Emily Carr's name, the quartet thanks Emily Carr House, Victoria, BC.

www.emilycarrstringquartet.com



Sarah Hagen - piano

"A rarity of musical excellence, technical ease and tonal purity," pianist Sarah Hagen is a sought-after soloist and chamber musician, performing in concerts across Canada as well as in the United States, France, Italy, Germany and Sweden. Her interpretations have been described as "outstandingly inventive," performed with "infinite skill."

A visionary and an idealist, Sarah's performances are often conceptually innovative, involving photography, dance and theatre. Her motivation is the belief that music has the power to be a window into our souls regardless of age or knowledge. She is the Artistic Director for Pro'ject Sound, a performance project involving live piano with large-scale projected images. She is also an avid collaborator, reveling in the friendships and stimulation that abound in chamber music. Sarah's upcoming season includes performances in Sweden, Spain and northern BC, as well as a performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Victoria Symphony.

Miss Hagen has been heard on Swedish Radio 2, CBC's West Coast Performance, Alberta CBC's Sunday Arts Programme, WDAV (North Carolina) WOSU (Ohio), KFUO (Missouri), CKUA (Edmonton), WKAR (Michigan), WITF (Pennsylvania), 98.1 KING FM (Seattle) and has appeared on Bravo Television. Her solo album, Glass House Dancing, was nominated for Classical Recording of the Year at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards.

www.sarahhagen.com



www.sarahhagen.com