in the works
TAKING A DEEP BREATH...IN CONCERT
Fresh off completion of our 3-volume late-MOZART COMPENDIUM (with the release of Apotheosis vol. 3 (FCL2024), we are looking forward to upcoming concerts in Warminster, Pennsylvania (Nov 4) and Rye, New York (Nov 5), SF's Herbst Theatre (Nov 11), Chamber Music Marin (Nov 12) and Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts (Dec 3). For details on those and 2024 performances, visit the ASQ4.com Calendar.
MOZART COMPENDIUM — THREE VOLUMES (6 CDs):
Apotheosis vol. 1 — Mozart Final Quartets (FCL2016)
Apotheosis vol. 2 — Mozart Piano Quartets, with Joyce Yang (FCL2018)
Apotheosis vol. 3 — Mozart String Quintets, with Paul Yarbrough (FCL2024)
BRITISH INVASION
With British Invasion, William Kanengiser and the Alexander String Quartet pay tribute to a group of English musicians who conquered the musical world with their revolutionary explorations. From the Elizabethan lutenist John Dowland to pop/rock icons Sting, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, these artists made a lasting impact far from the shores of their small island. Their music served as inspiration for a set of compositions for guitar and string quartet by talented composers Ian Krouse, Dušan Bogdanović and Léo Brouwer.
Read more
OTHER RECENT RELEASES:
BRAHMS MOZART CLARINET QUINTETS, in collaboration with clarinetist Eli Eban.
LOCALE — DVOŘÁK's String Quartet in F Major, Op. 96 “American” and Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81, in collaboration with pianist Joyce Yang.
MAHLER SONG CYCLES: In meinem Himmel
Premiere recording of three song cycles transcribed for string quartet by Zakarias Grafilo — produced in collaboration with LiederAlive!
THE BRAHMS PROJECT — WRAPPING IT UP
With the release of Brahms String Quartets, with Intermezzo (FCL2022), we took a moment to reflect on the process — and what a long, rich trip it's been!
In June, 2020, the Alexander String Quartet returned to St. Stephens Church, Belvedere, to complete the recordings that comprise our Brahms Project. We were delighted to work, once again, with producer/engineer Matt Carr, whose expertise and creativity have contributed so much to another recent release, Brahms & Mozart Clarinet Quintets (as well as our recent Dvořák offerings and Mahler Song Cycles).
This recording carries extra significance for us — since we were wrapping up the Brahms recordings just as violist Paul Yarbrough was embarking...on retirement! As announced in February 2020, Paul appeared as a guest artist with the Quartet for two seasons of quintet repertory (East Coast: November; West Coast, March), and he continues to perform as a soloist, while teaching and pursuing personal projects. New member David Samuel has a long history of working with the ASQ as a guest artist, in recording and education projects, and has a prestigious career as a chamber musician, soloist and orchestral musician, making him an excellent choice for the 39-year-old Quartet. We are happy to welcome David back to the Bay Area from his previous residence in Auckland (NZ), where he served as Associate Principal Violist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and served on the faculty of the University of Auckland.
“We are doubly fortunate,” says Alexander “Sandy” Wilson, cellist and founding member of the ASQ. “Paul has been an inspiring and positive colleague and friend for nearly 40 years. We are all grateful for his partnership, vision and longevity—and it’s great that we are not really saying goodbye just yet, as he will join us as a guest artist for two seasons of quintets. Because of his long working association with the ASQ, David is a perfect fit: a superbly accomplished musician and someone who ‘gets us” as much as we get him. This kind of rapport is rare and important in welcoming new blood. Our future looks bright.”
“Chamber music is where my heart is, and I am absolutely thrilled to join the Alexander,” says David Samuel. “They are all great friends and I have worked, performed and recorded with them throughout my career. San Francisco has always felt like home to me and so joining the Alexander String Quartet is a homecoming on many levels. I am excited to be part of the next chapter of this great ensemble.”
SF Performances President Melanie Smith sums it up: “The ASQ with Paul Yarbrough have called San Francisco Performances their home for 30 years. They create deep and inspiring connections between music, musicians, audiences and the public through performances and education activities. This is a well-thought-out, forward-looking transition that will ensure that the ASQ are part of SF Performances, the Bay Area and national musical landscape for years to come.”
ASQ — THE MOVIE!
A crew from the Documentary Film Institute (at San Francisco State University) accompanied the ASQ on their 2015 Polish tour. The resulting film provides a behind-the-scenes look at chamber music (including a pilgrimage to view Beethoven's manuscripts) and life on the road. Con Moto: The Alexander String Quartet has traveled to film festivals — and received numerous awards, including: Winner Best Short Documentary – Classical Arts Film Festival; Season 12 Selection – KQED Truly CA; Official Selection – Polish International Film Festival 2016; Semi-Finalist – Phoenix Film Festival Melbourne 2016. View the full 28-minute film online.
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Read about ASQ collaborations with:
William Kanengiser
Eli Eban
Kindra Scharich
Joyce Yang
Cindy Cox
David Requiro
Toby Appel
Joan Enric Lluna
SF Choral Artists
Stephen Malinowski
MOZART COMPENDIUM:
APOTHEOSIS (3 volumes, 6 CDs)
THE LINE-UP for Apotheosis 3 — Mozart String Quintets (L to R): Sandy Wilson, cello; Frederick Lifsitz, violin; Zakarias Grafilo, violin; David Samuel, viola; Paul Yarbrough, viola (FCL2024)
Guitarist WILLIAM KANENGISER and ASQ gather beloved classics — reimagined by contemporary composers — on British Invasion (FCL2023)
ASQ and clarinetist ELI EBAN take a break in the St. Stephens garden while recording Brahms & Mozart Clarinet Quintets (FCL2021)
JOYCE YANG joins ASQ on Locale — Dvořák (FCL2020); previous collaborations include Apotheosis 2 — Mozart Piano Quartets (FCL2018) and Brahms Schumann Piano Quintets (FCL2014)
KINDRA SCHARICH and ASQ collaborated on this Lieder Alive commission:
In meinem Himmel — Mahler Songs, transcribed for string quartet by Zakarias Grafilo (FCL2019)