Aris in April: “Watercolor-soft sopranos, fiery octets and touching hospitality”
Springtime is tour time: an April full of concerts, trips and exciting experiences for the Aris Quartett!
It started with a highlight of the season: on April 5, they gave an acclaimed performance in the sold-out Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg! This was the fourth time in four years that the Aris Quartet had performed at the prestigious venue - and this time they were joined by an absolute star guest in the form of Christiane Karg. The Hamburger Abendblatt was full of praise for this “watercolor-delicate chamber music” and “would not have wanted to miss a single note of this concert”.
If you don't want to miss this special program, you have another opportunity on June 2nd at the Kölner Philharmonie, tickets are available here!
After a short recording session in the wonderful acoustics of the newly built Casals Forum in Kronberg (a good time to subscribe to the Aris Quartet's YouTube channel!!), the tour continued on April 13 at the Meisterkonzerte in Würzburg - with a very special concept: the Aris Quartet had previously worked on Mendelssohn's string octet with students from the Musikhochschule - celebrated in concert with visible enthusiasm and fiery intensity!
Further stops were Donaueschingen (04.14), Icking (04.20) and Burgrieden (04.21) - a pleasure and privilege to experience the commitment, warmth and hospitality with which the musicians are received in these chamber music series!
Finally, on April 28, Schumann and the American pianist Claire Huangci performed at the venerable Wiesbaden Casino Society. And at this point I will let Dietrich Stern of the Wiesbadener Kurier conclude in all simplicity: “The energetic final chord led to cheers and standing ovations”. Spring can come!
Aris in March: "On streaming statistics and standing Americans"
It was an eventful March for the musicians of the Aris Quartet:
It started right away on March 1st with a world premiere by the Austrian-American composer Lukas Ligeti in Stuttgart's Liederhalle. Ligeti dedicated the 4th string quartet entitled "Neostasis" to the Aris Quartet.
On March 8th, International Women's Day, the Aris Quartet broke new ground and released the very first "e-single" in its 15-year history with music by Fanny Hensel with Deutsche Grammophon (Universal Music).
A new format for new times - and extremely successful, as evidenced by the tens of thousands of streaming views in the first few weeks. For those who also want something for the eye, the DG has conveniently also published the matching video - take a look and enjoy the music of the composer, who is unfortunately only rarely performed.
On March 14, the ensemble once again traveled to North America. From North Carolina to Utah, the musicians were celebrated by euphoric US audiences with standing ovations - a particular highlight was their Canadian debut in the "Salle Pollack Hall" in Montreal. An important part of the quartet's work is always working with talented young musicians - this time in master classes at Weber State University and the University of Utah.
Fortunately, there was enough time for one or two excursions into the impressive natural surroundings - and the musicians were able to spend Easter tired but happy with their families.
New e-single released by Deutsche Grammophon
On March 8, 2024, the first e-single and the first e-video of the Aris Quartet will be released by Deutsche Grammophon.
In keeping with International Women's Day, the first movement of Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel's String Quartet in E flat major is released as a "Musical Moment".
The recording is available on all popular streaming portals.
World premiere of the 4th string quartet by Lukas Ligeti
On March 1, 2024, the Aris Quartet premiered the 4th string quartet "Neostasis" by Lukas Ligeti at the Liederhalle Stuttgart.
The work was commissioned by the Aris Quartet and made possible by the generous support of the Wilfried & Martha Ensinger Foundation.
Following numerous world premieres in recent years - for example by Misato Mochizuki, Kit Armstrong, Pierre-Dominique Ponnelle, Gerald Resch, John Woolrich and Konstantia Gourzi - the Aris Quartet once again demonstrates its great commitment to contemporary music, which was already awarded the prestigious Mamlok Prize in 2022.
Aris Quartett on BBC TV
It was a very special honour to be guests on the BBC TV 4 programme "New Generation Artists Presents" this spring.
The show was broadcast from the historic Coal Exchange in Cardiff/Wales on May 01st.
You can hear the last two movements of Felix Mendelssohn's famous String Quartet in F minor op.80.
Listen to our performance here!
