The Ives Quartet with World Premiere by Dane Rudhyar

Description

Redwood Arts Council presents
the Ives Quartet, performing world premiere


“Thoughtful, vivacious performance…”- San Francisco Chronicle

The Redwood Arts Council opens its 31st season with the highly acclaimed Ives Quartet on September 25 at 8 P.M. in its new home, the Occidental Center for the Arts. The program includes the Quartet No. 36 in B-flat by Hayden, the String Quartet in F Major by Dvorak and the world premier of a work by Dane Rudhyar, ”Crisis and Overcoming.”

The Quartet is named for and inspired by the passionate, artistic commitment and unique temperament of American composer Charles Ives (1874-1954). Much of the Ives Quartet’s particular magic is achieved by applying an American musical temperament to established string-quartet conventions of repertoire and performance. This spirit makes the Ives’ concerts unusually open and effective. The unique perspective of the Quartet, which reflects the rich and varied backgrounds of the quartet’s members, graces San Francisco Bay Area stages during its home season and the concert halls and festival stages of Europe during the summer.

In line with their reputation, the Ives Quartet will perform a world premier for the Redwood Arts season opener entitled, “Crisis and Overcoming” by Dane Rudhyar (1895-1985). Composer, artist, philosopher, and astrologist Rudhyar was born in Paris, moved to America in 1916 and lived his last decade in Palo Alto. His early compositions for piano used Scriabin and Debussy as a launch pad into a unique post-Romantic musical universe that embraces dissonant counterpoint. His late works include two string quartets, including the work to be premiered at this concert. He published more than 30 books during his life time.

The Ives first violinist is Bettina Mussumeli. She has been a member since 2005 and is a graduate of the Julliard School. A faculty member at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she returned to the United States in 2001 after establishing a major career in Europe, where she became co-concertmaster and soloist with the Italian chamber group I Solisti Veneti. She has performed throughout Europe, Australia, and the Far East. She also teaches violin at Ars Musica, and has been the chamber music coach at Oberlin at Cassalmaggiore.

Susan Freier, second violin, is a founding Ives member. She attended Stanford University graduating with degrees in both music and biology. She completed her graduate study at the Eastman School of Music, where she co-founded the Chester String Quartet which won a number of International competitions. She has served on the faculties of the University of Indiana, Stanford University, Garth Newel and Rocky Ridge Music Centers. She appears frequently in American music festivals and has performed on NPR, the BBC and German State Radio.

Jodi Levitz, violist, joined the Ives Quartet in 2006. She is a professor of viola and chamber music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music beginning her career, while still a student at Juilliard, as the viola soloist with the Italian Chamber group I Solisti Veneti. She has performed as a soloist throughout Europe, South America, the United States, and the Far East. She has recorded works of romantic and modern composers on the Concerto, Dynamic and Erato labels.

Stephen Harrison, cellist, is a founding member of the Ives Quartet. He has been on the Stanford University faculty since 1983 and is a graduate of Oberlin and Boston University. He has toured internationally as a solo cellist of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. He is currently an artist and faculty member of the Rocky Ridge Music Center and the San Diego Chamber Music Workshop. He will be playing his recently acquired 100-year-old Italian cello for the Redwood Arts concert.

This season, the Redwood Arts Council has moved to its new home in the Occidental Center for the Arts located on the northern edge of town. The newly constructed auditorium features ceiling mounted tuned baffling which provides great listening and a raised stage which provides excellent viewing. Call the Redwood Arts Council (707) 874-1124 to order your 2010/2011 season membership. Individual tickets may be purchased through brownpapertickets.com and at Handgoods in Occidental. If available, tickets may be purchased at the concert. Prices are $25.00 for general admission, and $10.00 for full-time students with ID. Infants and very young children will not be admitted. For further information, visit redwoodarts.org.

The Redwood Arts Council is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation.

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