The Endellion Quartet: World-renowned Beethoven Interpreters Perform a Sublime Evening of Early, Middle & Late Quartets

Vancouver, BC – Britain’s leading quartet - The Endellion String Quartet – make their anticipated return to town after 14 years on Tuesday February 26, 2013 at 8pm at the Vancouver Playhouse, as part of Friends of Chamber Music’s 2012/2013 season. The ensemble is particularly renowned for its rich, insightful interpretations of Beethoven’s music. The group will present a profoundly moving program that explores the composer’s life and development by selecting a quartet from each of his musical periods.

Having toured the globe for more than 30 years, the Endellion Quartet has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the world’s finest ensembles. Their particular renown as expert interpreters of Beethoven is something that has been enhanced over the past five years through a series of high-profile projects involving the composer’s work: releasing a boxed set of the complete Beethoven String Quartets with Warner Classics; involvement in Phil Grabsky’s documentary film In Search of Beethoven; releasing a concert DVD of Beethoven; and performing the complete cycle of 15 quartets in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art within the space of ten days.

“The Endellion Quartet has not performed in the city since 1999 - so we were, of course, excited to have them return. When we were able to confirm the Beethoven program however, we were absolutely thrilled,” said Eric Wilson, program director at Friends of Chamber Music. “The works selected represent a must-hear opportunity for any lover of his music; the chance to hear how Beethoven developed, changed, and grew as a composer over the course of a single evening.”

The program features works from Ludwig van Beethoven’s early, middle, and late musical periods: Quartet in D major, Opus 18, No.3, Quartet in C major, Opus 59, No.3, and Quartet in E flat major, Opus 74 “The Harp”.

"...these superb musicians respond to the dark undertow so characteristic of Beethoven's quartets as much as the gentle lyricism which invariably breaks through."
- The Observer

Formed in 1979, the Endellion String Quartet is recognized as one of the finest string quartets in the world. Over the years, its schedule has included regular tours of North and South America, the Far and Middle East, and all Western European Countries. They have collaborated with leading artists including Joshua Bell, Mitsuko Uchida and Steven Isserlis. The quartet regularly broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and appears at all major British concert series and festivals.

They have previously won the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Best Chamber Ensemble and have been resident quartet at the University of Cambridge for twenty years. In addition to its Cambridge University Residency, the Endellion String Quartet has undertaken three short-term residencies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA.

Its members are Andrew Watkinson, violin, Ralph de Souza, violin, Garfield Jackson, viola, and David Waterman, cello.

About Friends of Chamber Music (www.friendsofchambermusic.ca)
Friends of Chamber Music is a volunteer-run non-profit society dedicated to presenting exceptional chamber music performances in Vancouver and to developing future artists through an annual chamber music competition for young musicians.

The organization was formed in March of 1948 by a group of music lovers who felt that while there was much great music in Vancouver, there was little in the way of chamber music. In the 65 years since, Friends of Chamber Music has welcomed some of the world’s greatest ensembles to the city, ensuring that chamber music will always have a place in Vancouverites’ ears, hearts, and minds.

Friends of Chamber Music
PO Box 38046 RPO King Edward Mall
Vancouver, BC Canada V5Z 4L9

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This release was published on openPR.