Beethoven Late Quartets, Vol.1 - New CD - Available August 25th 2009
Benjamin Lees Quartets 1,5 and 6 - New CD - Available now! on Naxos
Elena Ruehr Quartets 1, 3 and 4 - New CD - Available early Spring 2010
Widely celebrated for the power of its performances and its passionate dedication to the genre, the Cypress String Quartet combines technical precision with imaginative programming to create unforgettable concert experiences. Cecily Ward, Tom Stone, Ethan Filner and Jennifer Kloetzel have shown an unfailing dedication to exploring the masterworks of the time-honored, classic chamber music repertoire with its unique and refreshingly open sound.
While individually acclaimed musicians in their own right with training from prestigious institutions including The Juilliard School, Interlochen Arts Academy, Cleveland Institute of Music, Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the Royal College of Music, the Cypress String Quartet has honed its ensemble skills with over 13 years experience performing around the world.
On top of a busy schedule of over 90 concerts each year at venues across America and internationally, including the Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Stanford Lively Arts, Krannert Center and Ravinia Festival, the Cypress String Quartet is a vibrant member of the San Francisco arts community and is dedicated to reflecting and enriching the city’s cultural landscape.
The Cypress String Quartet is excited to release the first volume of its collection of Beethoven’s Late Quartets over three years. The highly anticipated first volume featuring the String Quartets in C-sharp minor, Opus 131 and in F Major, Opus 135 will be publicly launched in San Francisco in August, 2009.
Through its ‘Call & Response’ commissioning and outreach program, the Cypress String Quartet has created a dialogue between the old masters and living composers, performing known and loved repertoire in a fresh context and introducing ground-breaking new works to the chamber music genre. Over just a decade, the Cypress String Quartet has commissioned and premiered more than 25 new works, four of which are now included on Chamber Music America’s list of “101 Great American Ensemble Works”.
The Cypress String Quartet represents the voice of the new generation of American culture.
As comfortable playing Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven in recital halls as it is being the foundation of multi-media collaborations, the Quartet brings passion, inspiration and enjoyment to every audience.
The members of the Cypress Quartet play on exceptional instruments, including violins by Antonio Stradivarius (1681) and Carlos Bergonzi (1733), a viola by Vittorio Bellarosa (1947) and a cello by Hieronymus Amati II (1701).
The Cypress Quartet takes its name from the set of twelve love songs for string quartet, "The Cypresses", by Antonin Dvorak.
nostalghia, for string quartet, tape, and live el.
Si oscura la vista..
La mia forza sono due occulti dardi adamantini..
Si confonde l’udito per il tuono lontano
della casa paterna che respira..
dei duri muscoli i gambi si infiacchiscono
come bovi canuti alla radura
e non più quando è notte alle mie spalle splendono due ali…
nella festa, candela, mi sono consumato..
all’alba raccogliete la mia disciolta cera
e lì leggete chi piangere, di cosa andar superbi..
come, donando l’ultima porzione di letizia,
morire in levità,
e al riparo d’un tetto di fortuna
accendersi postumi,
come una parola..
Andrej Tarkovsky
The sight is growing dim…
My vigour are two concealed adamantine darts..
Hearing becomes confused for the far thunder
of father’s house that breathes..
hard’s muscles’ stalks become weak
like hoary oxen in the glade
and not further, when night comes, at my shoulders two wings shine..
in the festivity, like a candle, I burned out..
at dawn shelter my dissolved wax
and there read whom cry, whose be proud..
as, presenting the latest joy’s share
to die in lightness
and sheltered by an improvised roof
to catch fire posthumous
like a word…
