Want to watch online? Click here for Digital Concert Tickets or here for Digital Subscription. Learn more at chambermusicdetroit.org/digital
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
The award-winning Balourdet Quartet is joined by Juilliard String Quartet cellist Astrid Schween for a performance of Schubert’s immortal Cello Quintet. Also on the program, Haydn’s “Bird” Quartet and “Strange Machines” by Canadian composer Karim Al-Zand.
PROGRAM
Haydn: String Quartet in C major, Op. 33, No. 3, "The Bird"
Karim Al-Zand: String Quartet No. 4, "Strange Machines"
Schubert: String Quintet in C major, D. 956
“Absolute musical perfection… full, robust sound… impeccable balance”
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Balourdet String Quartet
Angela Bae, Violin
Justin DeFilippis, Violin
Benjamin Zannoni, Viola
Russell Houston, Cello
with
Astrid Schween, Cello (Juilliard String Quartet)
The celebrated Balourdet Quartet produces both emotionally intense and intimate moments on international stages. Its unique closeness and willingness to take creative risks earned it the 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant, as well as Chamber Music America’s 2024 Cleveland Quartet Award. With more than 70 concerts per season, recent highlights include the Balourdet’s debuts at Carnegie and Wigmore Halls, and new string quartets by composers Karim Al-Zand and Paul Novak through grants from Chamber Music America (2021) and the Barlow Foundation (2023). They are currently the Graduate Quartet in Residence at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and are recent graduates of the New England Conservatory’s Professional String Quartet Program. read full bio >
Astrid Schween, cello
Cellist Astrid Schween has gained a rich following and enjoys a varied career as a soloist, chamber artist and teacher. Since joining the Juilliard String Quartet in 2016, she has appeared at many of the world’s great concert halls including Carnegie Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, the Vienna Musikverein, Berlin Konzerthaus, Wigmore Hall, Lincoln Center, The 92nd Street Y, Ravinia, Tanglewood, The Kennedy Center, and on tour throughout China, Japan, Singapore, Europe, Canada and the US.
Astrid Schween made her concerto debut at the age of 16, with the New York Philharmonic and conductor, Zubin Mehta. Mehta later arranged a special invitation for her to study privately in London with the legendary cellist, Jacqueline DuPré. This mentorship with DuPré continued for seven inspiring years. With degrees from the Juilliard School, Schween received her primary training under the guidance of Leonard Rose, Harvey Shapiro, Channing Robbins, Ardyth Alton and Dr. H.T. Ma, with additional studies under Bernard Greenhouse and Eugene Moye. She performed in master classes for Philippe Muller and William Pleeth, and also participated in the Marlboro Music Festival.
Astrid Schween maintains a lively solo performance schedule in addition to her extensive touring with the Juilliard String Quartet , and has been featured in Strings and Strad magazines, on NPR and was a guest speaker on the topic, “Women in Music” at the Library of Congress. Recent JSQ highlights include ongoing tours with Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. read full bio >
