August 31, 2004
Contact: Susan Gwynne
(805) 893-2098
e-mail: gwynne-s@sa.ucsb.edu
UCSB Arts & Lectures Presents a Juilliard String Quartet Residency Featuring Free Concerts and Master Classes
Summary Facts:
- Juilliard String Quartet
- One of the most internationally renowned chamber music ensembles
- Free concerts; advance tickets are required
- Performing works by Mozart and Bartok
- Sunday, October 3 / 2 & 5 pm
- Montecito Country Club, 920 Summit Road
- Four master classes with individual members of the quartet at four different venues; all free and open to public observation
- Saturday, October 2 / 3 pm
- Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at 893-3535
Through the generosity of local art patrons Jon & Lillian Lovelace, in partnership with the Library of Congress, The Juilliard String Quartet—recognized as a leader in its field for over 50 years and the Quartet in Residence at the Library of Congress for over 40 years—will perform on Sunday, October 3 at 2 & 5 pm at the Montecito Country Club. These free concerts, for which an extremely limited number of tickets remain, conclude a weekend residency that also features four master classes with the members of the quartet and a presentation of rare music manuscripts from the Library of Congress.
The Juilliard String Quartet is internationally renowned for performances that are characterized by clarity of structure, plasticity of line, compelling rhythmic drive and an extraordinary unanimity of purpose. The ensemble, with more than 100 releases to its credit, records exclusively for Sony Classical and has been associated with the label since 1949. In separate reviews the Boston Globe has called the ensemble “our national string quartet” and has also asserted, “The Juilliard Quartet, more than anybody else, established the modern repertoire as the modern repertoire. Try to imagine the 20th century without them. What a burden!”
The Juilliard String Quartet is comprised of Joel Smirnoff, violin; Ronald Copes, violin; Samuel Rhodes, viola and Joel Krosnick, cello. Copes, former professor of violin at the University of California, Santa Barbara, joined the ensemble in 1997. The Juilliard String Quartet’s program for these concerts includes the Bartok Quartet No. 3 and Mozart Quartet in D Major, K.499, “Hoffmeister.” Rare music documents from the Library of Congress will also be on display at the concerts. Historian Christine Palmer will give an architectural chat about the Montecito Country Club at the concerts.
Four master classes with individual members of the quartet will take place simultaneously on Saturday, October 2 from 3-5 pm. All four are free and open to public observation. Joel Krosnick will teach a class in Lotte Lehmann Hall, Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Road, Montecito that is co-presented with the Music Academy of the West through its MERIT (Music Education Reinforces Intellect and Talent) Program and the Santa Barbara Music Club. Ronald Copes will teach a class at Geiringer Hall, UCSB Music Building that is co-presented with the UCSB Department of Music. Samuel Rhodes will teach a class in Room 1145, UCSB Music Building that is co-presented with the Santa Barbara Music Teachers Association. Joel Smirnoff will teach a class at Ventura High School, 2155 E. Main St., Ventura that is co-presented with the Ventura Music Festival. For further information about this class call (805) 648-3146.
In addition to these events, Jon Newsom, Chief of the Music Division for the Library of Congress, will display manuscripts and deliver a lecture on Friday, October 1 at 3 pm in the McCune Conference Room, USCB Interdisciplinary Humanities Center, Humanities and Social Sciences Building. This free public event is co-presented with the Center for Interdisciplinary Study of Music, the Department of Music, and UCSB Libraries. Newsom will discuss the Library’s collection of music manuscripts and relevant issues in cultural archiving and the history of the government’s role in facilitating scholarly research. He will bring several rare music manuscripts to Santa Barbara, including original works by Mozart and Beethoven.
The quartet’s concerts at the Montecito Country Club are the first of three events in UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 2004-5 Chamber Music in Historic Sites® series held in local buildings of architectural significance where audiences can experience music in unique and intimate environments. The series will continue with the acclaimed English a cappella group The Tallis Scholars performing a Christmas concert at All Saints by the Sea Episcopal Church on Saturday, December 4 and brilliant double bassist Edgar Meyer performing at the Barton & Victoria Myers Residence on Saturday, May 21.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents its historic sites series by agreement with Chamber Music in Historic Sites®—a nationally licensed series, Dr. MaryAnn Bonino, president and founder. Supported by the Pearl Chase Society, the concerts are funded in part by an organizational development grant using funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission. The series is sponsored by KCBX Public Radio.
For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.
Editor: For photos, please call
Susan Gwynne at (805) 893-2098.