When it comes to concerts, Rolston String Quartet is much admired and deeply proud of its work. The engaging Canadian foursome gained international notoriety as winners of the 2016 Banff International String Quartet Competition.
As one of Canada's youngest and brightest ensembles, the quartet features Luri Lee (violin), Jeffrey Dryda (violin), Hezekiah Leung (viola) and Jonathan Lo (cello).
Known for inventive programming, passion for new music, and polished, but driven performances, the expressive ensemble returned yesterday from a whirlwind European tour that was part of a three-year development program.
As St. Albert Chamber Music Society's third concert of the season, Rolston String Quartet will play an eclectic repertoire of traditional classical music and contemporary classical on Sunday, Feb. 11 at Red Willow Place.
One of the pieces is former St. Albert resident Dr. Zosha Di Castri's new music composition Quartet No. 1. The internationally performed composer and soundscape artist is on faculty at New York City's Columbia University and will attend Sunday's homecoming concert.
Edmonton Youth Orchestra conductor Michael Massey, one of Di Castri's former mentors, will host a pre-concert interview with her at 6:45 p.m. and a post-concert discussion with Di Castri and the musicians.
Although the Gazette was unable to interview Rolston String Quartet during their European tour, cellist Jonathan Lo graciously answered a few questions posed via email. Below are the questions and answers in their entirety.
Q. What attracted each of you to the music you play?
A. The four of us were drawn to being in a string quartet together because the camaraderie, repertoire, and the relationship between four dedicated, like-minded, and passionate musicians are unlike any other musical venture.
Q. What composers have influenced Rolston String Quartet?
A. Beethoven has always been a favourite of ours; there is an incredible human quality to his writing. He was also constantly pushing the boundaries of what the string quartet could do both musically and technically.
Q. How would you describe your style of musicianship?
A. We strive to communicate and connect with audiences by bringing to life the composer’s intentions.
Q. What pieces of music will you perform a the St. Albert Chamber Music Society concert on Sunday, Feb. 11? Could you provide a short description of each work?
A. Mozart’s String Quartet No. 18 in A major, K. 464 is one of 6 quartets he dedicated to the grandfather of the string quartet genre, Joseph Haydn. It is a sunny, ebullient work, said to be one of Beethoven’s favourites and showcases Mozart’s contrapuntal mastery that builds upon what Haydn had established. Zosha di Castri’s String Quartet No. 1 is a wonderfully inventive and virtuosic piece, full of unusual sounds and motifs. Schumann’s Third String Quartet, is a stirring, moving work, full of longing and passion for his wife, the celebrated pianist and composer Clara Schumann who was busy touring at the time of its composition. Schumann develops and varies the famed opening motif throughout the work in numerous and surprising ways.
Q. What do you think will delight or surprise people the most about your concert?
A. I think audiences will be drawn to the many emotions conveyed in Mozart and Schumann, while Zosha di Castri’s String Quartet will surprise audiences with the sounds a string quartet is able to create.
Q. As first prize winners of the prestigious 2016 International String Quartet Competition, you were tasked with performing composer Zosha Di Castri's new music composition – Quartet No.1. Since it was the composition's debut, how did the quartet go about preparing for it?
A. Zosha di Castri’s String Quartet No. 1 is a piece that really pushes the boundaries of string quartet playing. We had to break down the piece's several sections into small chunks, in addition to finding our own interpretation of sounds and techniques she had described in certain parts. It is technically and rhythmically challenging, requiring lots of slow, metronome work, as well as rigorous individual practice.
Q. Rolston Quartet is the voice of a new generation of artists. What impact are you having by playing new music such as Di Castri's composition?
A. As artists, we feel we have a responsibility to champion the work of contemporary composers, especially those of our fellow compatriots like Zosha Di Castri. Their work deserves and needs to be exposed to and supported by audiences.
Q. What is the quartet's ultimate goal in the industry?
A. We would like to continue sharing our music-making with audiences and concert halls around the world, following in the footsteps of our mentors and inspirations, groups such as the St. Lawrence, Brentano, and Hagen Quartets to name a few. Eventually, it would also be great to be associated as artists-in-residence at a performing arts institution or a conservatory.
