Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series presents: Alexander Quartet Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at the Gualala Arts Center

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Alexander Quartet Zakarias Grafilo, violin Frederick Lifsitz, violin Paul Yarbrough , viola Sandy Wilson, cello

Following its 25th Anniversary in 2006, the Alexander Quartet has performed in the major music capitals of four continents, securing its standing among the world's premier ensembles. That same year in May, the Quartet made its first visit to the Gualala Arts Center to an enthusiastic audience. Widely admired for its interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart, and Shostakovich, the Quartet has also established itself as an important advocate of new music through over 25 commissions and numerous premiere performances.

In 1999, BMG Classics released the Quartet's nine-CD set of the Beethoven cycle on its Arte Nova label to tremendous critical acclaim. The Foghorn Classics label released a three-CD set (Homage) of the Mozart quartets dedicated to Haydn in 2004. Recently, they released the completion of a six-CD album (Fragments Vol. 1 & 2) of the complete Shostakovich quartets, and a recording of the complete quartets of Pulitzer prize-winning San Francisco composer, Wayne Peterson.

The Alexander String Quartet's celebrated its 25th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of its association with New York City's Baruch College as Ensemble in Residence with a performance of the Shostakovich string quartet cycle. Of these performances, The New York Times wrote, "The intimacy of the music came through with enhanced power and poignancy in the Alexander String Quartet's vibrant, probing, assured and aptly volatile performances . . . Seldom have these anguished, playful, ironic, and masterly works seemed so profoundly personal."

At home in San Francisco, the members of the Alexander String Quartet are a major artistic presence, serving as Ensemble in Residence of San Francisco Performances and as directors of the Morrison Chamber Music Center at the School of Music and Dance in the College of Creative Arts at San Francisco State University. The Alexander String Quartet was formed in New York City in 1981 and the following year became the first string quartet to win the Concert Artists Guild Competition. In 1985, the Quartet captured international attention as the first and only American Quartet to win the London International String Quartet Competition, receiving both the jury's highest award and the Audience Prize.

Tickets are $20 for advance purchases; $5 more on the day of the concert (buy your tickets early!). Children and young people ages 7 through 17 are admitted free.

For advance purchase, go to Brown Paper Tickets or call them at 800-838-3006.
To purchase in person, visit the Gualala Arts Center or Dolphin Gallery in Gualala.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.