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Very First Time
When I look back at the past 10 years in the ASQ, one of the most significant accomplishments for me is the extensive recording library that we’ve put together in such a short time. Just the other day I looked at my CD shelf and I counted at least 35 new discs; including a complete… Continue Reading
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Jake Heggie Guestblog on “Camille Claudel”
I am counting the minutes to the concert with Joyce DiDonato and the Alexander String Quartet! In a way, it feels like the culmination of a 20-year quest: waiting for the right venue, the right artists, the right time in my creative life to give Camille Claudel a voice. She is somebody I have thought… Continue Reading
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Preparing for Dvořák
Dvořák’s Terzetto provides a rare opportunity for the cello to sit out and listen to the upper three members of the ASQ amuse and delight the listener without me, the cellist, “ruddering” the piece. My colleagues try to get together early before we start our regular quartet rehearsal to get some work done without my… Continue Reading
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ASQ 30th Anniversary Concert Photo Shoot
In preparation for our 30th Anniversary Concert, we got a few photos of the quartet with composer Jake Heggie, and mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato. Thanks to San Francisco Performances for letting us share these with you here! Continue Reading
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Preparing for a busy weekend
The Alexander String is preparing for a full weekend — three performances in two days! Saturday, January 28: Franz Schubert Series (Read Sandy Wilson’s take on the Schubert Quartets and Paul Yarbrough’s blog on the Schubert Series) San Francisco Performances Inc. Herbst Theatre San Francisco, California Tel: (415) 398-6449 Web: www.performances.org ASQ with lecturer, Robert… Continue Reading
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Jake Heggie Talks with SFCV about “Into the Fire”
Composer Jake Heggie spoke with Jason Victor Serinus of the San Francisco Classical Voice about his new work Camille Claudel that is to be premiered by the Alexander String Quartet and Joyce DiDonato during the ASQ’s 30th Anniversary Concert. Read through a sample of the dialogue, and then read the full interview on SFCV.org! What… Continue Reading
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Paul on the Schubert Series
The Saturday morning series at the Herbst with our main man, Bob Greenberg, this year has turned to the amazing quartets (and one quintet) of Franz Schubert. Each year has its specific focus composer or multi-composer premise. Greenberg talks, we play. It starts at 10 am on Saturday mornings in the winter and early spring.… Continue Reading
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Alexander String Quartet Celebrates 30th Anniversary Year With a Concert and Commission
The Alexander String Quartet celebrates our 30th anniversary year with a newly commissioned (commission from San Francisco Performances) collaborative vocal quintet, Camille Claudel: Into the Fire by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer featuring mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato. This work is based on the life of French sculptor Camille Claudel, Rodin’s lover, a confidante of… Continue Reading
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Singing Together With Schubert
I wrote to Jake Heggie just last week lamenting that instead of cramming in more preparation for the fast upcoming premiere of his wonderful new composition for for the ASQ’s 30th Anniversary, “Into The Fire,” the Quartet was finding itself practically blindsided in preparing a bunch of obscure early Schubert quartets instead. Jake wasn’t surprised… Continue Reading
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Emergency Instrument Fix!
The ASQ is performing and recording this season on a matched set of beautiful American instruments – the Ellen M. Egger Quartet of instruments made by luthier Francis Kuttner. On Friday, the cello manifest strange buzzing and rattling noises and needed attention in a hurry. The ASQ spent a couple of hours first thing down… Continue Reading
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Schubert Concert Giveaway
The Alexander String Quartet will perform the first of four concerts with esteemed lecturer Robert Greenberg this Saturday at 10am. To celebrate the beginning of an exciting concert series, we’re hosting a Giveaway! Grand Prize: One winner will receive Two Tickets to the January 14th Alexander String Quartet “San Francisco Series – Franz Schubert” performance… Continue Reading
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Paul on inspiration from Menuhin
Many people will know that Yehudi Menuhin was a cherished friend to our group dating back to the very first year of our existence. Here’s a passage from his “Unfinished Journey” about string quartet playing that I find inspiring: “Those quiet summers were marked for me by the experience, too rare in my life, of… Continue Reading
