Fitzwilliam String Quartet At Bucknell University

Britain's world-renowned Fitzwilliam String Quartet will honor their close association with Russian composter Dmitri Shostakovich with a free concert Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rooke Recital Hall of the Weis Music Bucknell at Bucknell University.

"The Feb. 12 concert celebrates the 40th anniversary of Shostakovich's visit to the University of York with a performance of the exact program that was played for Shostakovich," said Barry Hannigan, a professor of music at Bucknell.

Only a year into their residency at York, the Fitzwilliam premiered Shostakovich's "13th Quartet" to the composer's delight. In fact, the composer called the ensemble his "preferred performers of my quartets." The Fitzwilliam continued to introduce Shostakovich's quartets to the West, becoming the first group ever to record and perform all 15.

The Fitzwilliam is one of the very few string quartets in Britain that performs on both historical and modern instruments. Members of the string quartet are Alan George, viola, an original member of the quartet; Lucy Russell, violin; Marcus Barcham-Stevens, violin; and Heather Tuach, violoncello.

"Quartet-in-residence at the Universities of York and Warwick, they also were affiliate artists at Bucknell from 1978 to 1986, returning to campus on a regular basis beginning in 1998 and, most recently, last year," said Hannigan. "Those lucky enough to have heard the quartet over the years can attest to the high quality of their performances. We sincerely thank the generosity of the Kushell family, which has endowed a series of residencies for the Bucknell Music Department."

The performance is part of the Fitzwilliam's residency at Bucknell this month, which includes three other concerts and several workshops as well as class visits. All concerts, which are free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Rooke Recital Hall of the Weis Music Building.

The concert program schedule includes:

Thursday, Feb. 7: with Barry Hannigan, piano; Mary Hannigan, flute; and Sezi Seskir, piano. They join the Fitzwilliam in a program including Britten's "Cello Sonata," Martinu's "Madrigal for violin and viola, Beethoven's "Flute Serenade" and Schumann's "Piano Quartet."

Thursday, Feb. 14: with Cathal Breslin, piano; Christopher Para, violin and viola; Andrew Rammon, cello; and Sezi Seskir, piano, in a program including Haydn's "Quartet in D major, Op. 71/2," Alan Ridout's "Ferdinand and the Bull," Mozart's "Sonata in E minor, K.304" and Tchaikovsky's "Souvenir de Florence." A highlight of the Valentine's Day program is the composition "calling westward" by Bucknell composer Paul Botelho.

Sunday, Feb. 17: with Barry Hannigan, piano; Bill Kenny, horn; and Kent Larmee, horn, in a program including Beethoven's 'Horn Sextet," Britten's "Quartet No. 3" and Brahms' "Piano Quintet."

In addition to the concert schedule, the Fitzwilliam String Quartet will perform Sunday, Feb. 10, at the 11 a.m. Worship Service in Rooke Chapel. The music includes Introit, Anthem and Offertory by Ola Gjello, with the Rooke Chapel Choir and David Cover, piano.

The residency is supported by the Kushell Music Endowment of Bucknell University. For more information concerning the concerts or class visits, call 570-577-1239.

(Info from Bucknell University:  Kathryn Kopchik)