The Pro Arte Quartet: Centennial Anniversary Commissions
Brian Hsu (piano), Christopher Taylor (piano), Pro Arte Quartet
To celebrate their 100th anniversary, the Pro Arte Quartet commissioned works from four distinguished American composers (Walter Mays, Paul Schoenfield, William Bolcom and John Harbison), which were given their world premiere performances in 2011-2012. The Pro Arte Quartet was founded in 1911-12 by teenage prodigies who were students at the Brussels Conservatory. Stranded in the USA in 1940 by the outbreak of World War II, the Quartet became established at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where they became the first professional string quartet in residence at an American university. In all, the Quartet has commissioned more than 100 new works so it was fitting that the centerpiece of their centennial celebration include commissions, performances and recordings of these new works.
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Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| String Quartet No. 2 "Dreaming Butterfly" | Walter Mays | Pro Arte Quartet |
| Three Rhapsodies for Piano Quintet | Paul Schoenfield | Pro Arte Quartet, Brian Hsu, piano |
| Piano Quintet No. 2 | William Bolcom | Pro Arte Quartet, Christopher Taylor, piano |
| String Quartet No. 5 | John Harbison | Pro Arte Quartet |
Reviews
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"All of these works, in their own way, are challenging and serious, a credit to Pro Arte's continuing commitment towards pushing boundaries in chamber music. all in all this is a fascinating set worthy of both the composers and the performers."
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"The performances are expert, full-throated, and expressive."
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