Spektral Quartet

Spektral Quartet performs in Ravenswood Manor Park as part of the Horner Park Advisory Council Summer Concert Series.

Program:

White, LJ – zin zin zin zin
Blake, James (arr. Fisher-Lochhead, Chris) – I Never Learnt to Share
Reminick, David 2 – movts
Mendelssohn, Felix – String Quartet No. 1 in Eb Major, Op. 12

1. Adagio non troppo – Allegro non tardante
2. Canzonetta. Allegretto
3. Andante espressivo
4. Molto allegro e vivace

(break)

Arthur Russell (arr. Young, Katherine) – I’m Hiding Your Present From You Spektral Quartet Commission
Pluta, Sam – binary/momentary logics: flow state/joy state Spektral Quartet Commission
Schubert, Franz – Quartettsatz, D. 703
Reich, Steve – Triple Quartet

Biography:

Since its inception, the Spektral Quartet has sought out the discourse between the great works of the traditional canon and those written this decade, this year, or this week. Creating connections across centuries, the group further invites its listeners in with charismatic deliveries, interactive concert formats, an up-close atmosphere, and bold, inquisitive programming.

In addition to its forward-thinking Mobile Miniatures project, which commissioned over forty notable composers to write ringtones for download to mobile devices, the quartet’s recorded output includes Chambers (featuring prismatic works by living, Chicago-based composers), From This Point Forward (a zesty Latin-jazz and tango collaboration with bandoneon virtuoso Julien Labro), Fin de siècle (Ernest Chausson’s Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet with Swiss violin soloist Rachel Kolly d’Alba), and an upcoming, comedy-themed album on the Sono Luminus label, Serious Business.

Keen on frequently treading outside the lines of classical music, Spektral Quartet partnered with avant-pop artist Julia Holter in the 2014/15 season for composer Alex Temple’s Behind the Wallpaper at the Ecstatic Music Festival in NYC and the Liquid Music series in St. Paul, MN. In 2015/16, the ensemble invigorates its ongoing collaboration with Julien Labro, and continues to season its multifarious programs with composer re-imaginings of tunes from artists such as Björk, Wilco, Arthur Russell, Bessie Smith, and James Blake.

Titled UP CLOSE, the Spektral Quartet’s 2015/16 season is studded with new works from composers like Hans Thomalla, Morgan Krauss, Mikel Kuehn, Ryan Ingebritsen, Tomas Gueglio Saccone, and Anthony Cheung as well as cornerstones of the string quartet repertoire by Beethoven, Schubert, Prokofiev, Mendelssohn, and Bartók. Season highlights on the road include a residency with the JACK Quartet at Stanford University, a teaching residency at the New World Symphony, and an appearance with flutist Claire Chase at the University of Maryland’s Common Tone series.

The Spektral Quartet proudly serves as ensemble-in-residence at the University of Chicago’s Department of Music.