Ebène Quartet Returns to North America for Nine-City Winter 2010 Tour

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Taking in LA, NYC (Le Poisson Rouge) and DC (Kennedy Center)

Ebène’s Virgin Classics Debut Release of Debussy, Ravel and Fauré Won Gramophone “Recording of the Year” Award
“Even in a scene chock-full of excellent young groups, the Ebène Quartet stands out for the intensity of its performances and its striking sonic range, as heard on a recently-released Virgin Classics CD nicely filled with exacting, atmospheric accounts of quartets by Fauré, Debussy, and Ravel.” – Time Out New York

Described in a New York Times headline as “A String Quartet That Can Easily Morph Into a Jazz Band,” the Paris-based Ebène Quartet, winner this season of Gramophone’s coveted “Recording of the Year” award, returns to North America for a nine-city tour from February 5 – 23. The tour will feature the celebrated ensemble in performances of music heard on its first two releases for Virgin Classics, as well as signature jazz and pop interpretations. The winter tour kicks off in Appleton, Wisconsin (Feb 5) and includes two performances in Los Angeles (Feb 13 and 14), a return for the second consecutive season to New York’s popular music club, Le Poisson Rouge (Feb 16), and a concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (February 23). Last season, the group played Debussy’s String Quartet – featured on its award-winning album – at [Le] Poisson Rouge; one of its disc-mates, the Ravel Quartet, will be on the program there this year, along with jazz standards and improvisations that have set the group apart as one of classical music’s most adventurous ensembles.

Last season, the Ebène Quartet made huge waves with much-discussed live performances in the U.S. and with its debut recording for Virgin Classics, an all-French album featuring quartets by Debussy, Ravel, and Fauré. For its second release for the label – issued in the States in October 2009 – the Ebène offered an all-Brahms program, pairing the composer’s String Quartet No. 1 with his Piano Quintet. Japanese pianist Akiko Yamamoto joins the quartet for the latter.

Ebène Quartet – North American tour dates/programs February 2010

Friday, February 5

Appleton, WI

Lawrence University

(Masterclass day of concert)

Haydn: Quartet in G minor, Op. 74, No. 3, “The Rider”

Brahms: Quartet in C minor, Op. 51, No. 1

Debussy: Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

Saturday, February 6

Columbia, MD

Candlelight Music Society

All-Beethoven program (part of ongoing multi-group cycle)

Quartet in F major, Op. 18, No. 1

Quartet in F major, Op. 59, No. 1

Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131

Monday, February 8

Toronto, ON

University of Toronto

Haydn: Quartet in G minor, Op. 74, No. 3, “The Rider”

Brahms: Quartet in C minor, Op. 51, No. 1

Debussy: Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

Wednesday, February 10

Tucson, AZ

Arizona Friends of Chamber Music

Mozart: Divertimento in F major, K. 138

Fauré: String Quartet in E minor, Op. 121

Mendelssohn: String Quartet in F minor, Op. 80

Saturday, February 13

Los Angeles, California

Da Camera Society

All-Beethoven program (part of ongoing multi-group cycle)

Quartet in F major, Op. 18, No. 1

Quartet in F major, Op. 59, No. 1

Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131

Sunday, February 14

Los Angeles, CA

The Clark Library/UCLA

Ravel: Quartet in F major

Fauré: Quartet in E minor, Op. 121

Debussy: Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

Tuesday, February 16

New York, NY

[Le] Poisson Rouge

Ravel: Quartet in F major

Jazz/Crossover

Friday, February 19

Burlington, VT

UVM Lane Series

Haydn: Quartet in G minor, Op. 74, No. 3, “The Rider”

Brahms: Quartet in C minor, Op. 51, No. 1

Debussy: Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

Sunday, February 21

Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Office of Performing Arts

All-Beethoven program (part of going multi-group cycle)

Quartet in F major, Op. 18, No. 1

Quartet in F major, Op. 59, No. 1

Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131

Tuesday, February 23

Washington, D.C.

Washington Performing Arts Society

Beethoven: Quartet in F major, Op. 18, No. 1

Fauré: Quartet in E minor, Op. 121

Mendelssohn: Quartet in F minor, Op. 80

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