maureen nelson, violin
john marcus, violin
melissa reardon, viola
richard belcher, cello
Etkilendikleri
vermeer string quartet for believing in us, guarneri, capet, busch, italiano, amadeus, james dunham, radu lupu, glenn gould, bach, beethoven, bartok, brahms, radiohead, portishead, morcheeba, clap your hands say yeah! the office uk, black adder, will ferrell, vince vaugh, the family guy, broccoli stems, branston pickle with cheese, hokey pokey ice cream, new zealand sauvignon blanc, gibson martinis, framed art, some of us like happy music some like mainstream music, one of us likes dark music, and one likes oldies, we all like coffee, one of us likes it black, two like it with milk and another likes it with milk and lots of sugar, none of us like rehearsing early in the morning but sometimes it happens
Since its inception in 1999 the United States based Enso String Quartet has been acclaimed for their performances in major concert halls throughout the Americas and Europe. It was “standing room only”, wrote the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and commenting on the dynamism of the group, the Ann Arbor News declared their playing “crisp, incisive…with just the right quotient of sass.” The Strad applauded them for their “lyricism, style and expression as well as sophistication” and the Washington Post noted their “glorious sonorities…thrillingly athletic performance.” In addition to audience appreciation and critical acclaim, the Ensō String Quartet has earned its place in the ensemble world claiming multiple honors at the 2004 Banff International String Quartet Competition, including the prize for Best Performance of the commissioned Piece-de-Concert, and victories at the 2003 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition.
The Enso String Quartet’s members are sought after as teachers and performers of new music, and they have given world premiere performances of numerous works, including Joan Tower’s Piano Quintet with the composer at the piano. The quartet has held residencies with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, Houston-based new music ensemble, Musiqa, Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute, the Interlochen Adult Amateur Chamber Music Camp, and Connecticut’s Music For Youth program.
The ensemble’s 2005 debut on Naxos Records, a 2-CD set of Ignaz Pleyel’s six string quartets, Op. 2, has garnered rave reviews. The Strad called the disc “an auspicious start to the Enso String Quartet’s recording career,” Gramophone hailed their playing as “lively and intelligent”, and Fanfare Magazine praised the ensemble for its "extraordinary talent...exceptional sense of vitality and elegance.” Upcoming releases with Naxos Records are the piano quintets of Ernst von Dohnányi and the three string quartets of Alberto Ginastera featuring the esteemed soprano Lucy Shelton.
The Enso String Quartet members hold degrees from The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, Guildhall School of Music (UK) and the University of Canterbury (New Zealand). The ensemble formed in 1999 and while students at Yale University and completed graduate residencies at Northern Illinois University with the Vermeer Quartet and at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. The quartet has been featured in the American Ensembles column of Chamber Music magazine and their performances have been broadcast on PBS, Chicago’s WFMT, Wisconsin Public Radio, Minnesota Public Radio’s Saint Paul Sunday program, Houston’s KUHF, Australia’s ABC Classic FM, Radio New Zealand and Canada’s CBC radio.
The ensemble's name, enso, is derived from the Japanese zen painting of the circle which represents many things; perfection and imperfection, the moment of chaos that is creation, the emptiness of the void, the endless circle of life, and the fullness of the spirit.
Thanks very much for the contact! I've enjoyed listening to the excerpts on your site, the Ravel is always a favourite of mine. But the Ginastera I didn't know - it sounds good. Do you play any of the Villa Lobos quartets I wonder? Best wishes, Graham
Hey Girl! I'm back home in Phoenix for a little while before heading out East for some concerts. Hope it's a bit cooler there--it's still in the 100's here!
Looking forward to your new disc. When is it scheduled for release?
Thx a lot for the add. and congratulations for the Ginastera's quartets, there are a phew recordings ofthat wonderful music, and im sure that yours will be among the best of them. We still need coragious peapole playing that neglected repertoir.
