OPUS ONE PIANO QUARTET
Monday, October 24, 2011
Friends of Music is privileged to open the season with the Opus One Piano Quartet, called by St. Paul Sunday “the dream team of chamber music.” The Quartet is made up of musicians who are familiar to Friends audiences from previous concerts: Ida Kavafian (violin), Anne-Marie McDermott (piano), Steven Tenenbom (viola) and Peter Wiley (cello). They have appeared here as soloists and with other ensembles. Their virtuosity and musicianship are internationally acclaimed.
“the players shifted seamlessly between eloquent solo statements and polished blending…” – NEW YORK TIMES
“the impact of seeing a live performance by musicians who have a palpable connection was most gratifying.” – SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
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The Jupiter Quartet, winners of the 2004 Banff International String Quartet Competition, play as part of Music for a Summer Evening July 29.  Photo courtesy of The Banff Centre.

JUPITER STRING QUARTET
Monday, November 14, 2011
Formed in 2001, the Jupiter String Quartet chose its name because Jupiter was the most prominent planet in the night sky at the time of its formation, and the astrological symbol for Jupiter resembles the number four. The Jupiters have received several chamber music honors, including first prize in the Banff International String Quartet Competition, membership in Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society Two, and Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award. Most recently, they received an Avery Fisher Career Grant. The Jupiters place emphasis on developing future classical music audiences through outreach in schools and other educational performances.
“String quartets, like fine wines, get better with age; the Jupiters are a very fine vintage indeed.” – ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
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HAN-SETZER-FINCKEL, piano trio
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The enormously talented Wu Han returns with one-half of the Emerson String Quartet, violinist Philip Setzer and her husband cellist David Finckel, for an unforgettable evening of piano trio music. Individually and in various group configurations the three musicians are favorites of Friends of Music audiences and have performed here often. The three rank among the most esteemed and influential classical musicians in the world today. Wu Han and David Finckel are Artistic Directors of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
“[They] match each others' phrasing in attentive detail. Tempi are brisk but not forced, pizzicatos ring out boldly, and the piano holds all in agile balance.” – THE OBSERVER (London)
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PACIFICA STRING QUARTET 
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Recognized for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and often daring repertory choices, the Pacifica Quartet has achieved international stature as one of the finest chamber ensembles performing today. Recent career honors include appointment as quartet-in-residence at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the position held for 43 years by the Guarneri String Quartet. In 2009 the Pacifica was named “Ensemble of the Year” by Musical America and received the 2009 Grammy Award for “Best Chamber Music Performance.” This is the ensemble’s third appearance in New Orleans.
"There's no point in predicting future greatness for the young Pacifica Quartet. That future is already here.” – LOS ANGELES TIMES
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ST LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Established in 1989, the Grammy-nominated St. Lawrence String Quartet has developed an undisputed reputation as a truly world class chamber ensemble. Having been privileged to study with the Emerson, Tokyo and Juilliard String Quartets, the members of the Quartet are themselves passionate educators and have held the position of Ensemble in Residence at Stanford University since 1998. The Quartet continues to build its reputation for imaginative and spontaneous music-making through an energetic commitment to the great established quartet literature, as well as the championing of new works.
"The St. Lawrence are remarkable not simply for the quality of their music making, exalted as it is, but for the joy they take in the act of connection." – THE NEW YORKER
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ÉBÈNE STRING QUARTET
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Distinguished by its youth, open-mindedness, and versatility, France’s Ébène String Quartet is among the world’s most sought-after string quartets. Its signature concerts enthusiastically mix Haydn and Debussy with Miles Davis and even a cappella singing. ‘Mastery’, ‘elegance’, ‘density’, ‘complicity’, and ‘spirit’ are words that are used in describing this ensemble, whose CD of the Debussy, Ravel, and Fauré quartets on Virgin Classics was awarded 2009’s “Recording of the Year” by Gramophone. The Quartet has studied with the Ysaÿe Quartet in Paris and Gábor Takács-Nagy in Geneva and was chosen for BBC Radio 3’s esteemed “New Generation Artists” series.
“Interpreters of rare understanding and communicative flair…”  — THE STRAD
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KAVAFIAN-SCHUB-SHIFRIN CLARINET TRIO
Monday, April 9, 2012 
After 25 years of friendship and music-making, violinist Ani Kavafian, pianist André-Michel Schub and clarinetist David Shifrin - each a true virtuoso and a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center - have come together as a trio with undeniable chemistry. Combined they have performed with nearly every major orchestra around the world and in recital at the major concert halls. According to the musicians, "The spontaneity, the excitement and the fun we have playing together is beyond what we ever anticipated."
"No praise can be too high ... for the three hypervirtuosos ...” — BOSTON GLOBE
“Longevity is not always a virtue for chamber ensembles, but this trio has managed to stay fresh.” — FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
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SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY CONCERT: LYRICA BAROQUE Sunday, May 6, 2012, 3 PM
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
Lyrica Baroque is a classical chamber music ensemble, founded in New Orleans, which specializes in Baroque repertoire performed on modern instruments, and features soprano vocalist Sarah Jane McMahon, a New Orleans native and rising star in the opera world and regular soloist with the LPO and the New Orleans Opera. Lyrica Baroque is made up of musicians from the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra who will play music by Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli, Mozart, and others. The concert is co-sponsored by the Friends of Music, Loyola University, and the New Orleans Opera.