MUSIC

Houston Friends of Music presents the Artemis Quartet, in an all Beethoven concert, Tuesday, March 9, 2010, in Stude Concert Hall on the Rice University campus. Works included will be String Quartets Nos. 9, 11, and 12.

The Berlin-based quartet was founded at the Lübeck Musikhochschule in 1989; and studied for 10 years prior to formally launching their career. Gregor Sigl and Friedmann Weigle became members of the group in 2007. Other Houston Friends ensembles such as the Emerson and Julliard Quartets, have been and remain important teachers and mentors for the Artemis. The ensemble’s international stature was established by winning First Prizes at the ARD Competition in 1996 and at the Premio Borciani. Acclaim followed their performances at the Salzburg Festival, the Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg, and the Rheingqu Musik Festival. Their extensive discography can be heard on the Virgin Classics/EMI label for which they have twice won “Chamber Music Recording of the Year.”

The New York Times hails the Artemis as “…always playing with vigor, brilliance, and sensitivity. More than that, the performances are abundantly full of passion,” “German Quartet can do it all!” says the Montreal Gazette. Following their Houston debut on the Houston Friends of Chamber Music series in 2002, retired Houston Chronicle critic, Charles Ward, wrote “The Artemis performed with the confidence and control that allow musicians to reveal the deepest intimacies of music-making to the public…..Details were exquisitely developed.”

Since 2004, the quartet’s series of concerts at the Berlin Philharmonie has met with equally high praise from critics and audiences alike. In addition to their busy schedule of concerts at all the most important concert venues in Europe, the United States, Japan, South American and Australia, the Artemis Quartet is also committed to teaching. They have a j professorship in chamber music at Berlin’s Universitat der Kunste.

The Artemis will teach a master class in Duncan Recital Hall on Monday evening, March 8th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and it is open to the public. They will coach students from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

To purchase tickets, call 713-348-5400 or visit www.HoustonFriendsofChamberMusic.org.  The concert will be held in Stude Concert Hall on the campus of Rice University.

Natalia Prishenpenka, Violin
Gregor Sigl, Violin
Friedmann Weigle, Viola
Eckart Runge, Cello

Photo of Artemis Quartet –credit: artemisquartet.com (l to r) ; Eckart Runge, cello; Natalia Prishepenko, violin; Gregor Sigl, violin; Friedemann Weigle, viola.