Jonathan Crow & Andrew Wan, violins; Eric Nowlin, viola; Brian Manker, cello

Canada’s legendary Orford String Quartet (1965-91) reigned as one of the world’s most illustrious ensembles for 26 years. The New Orford String Quartet was launched in 2009 and their maiden performance, at the Orford Arts Centre, was hailed as already reflecting the beauty and refinement of their predecessor. Reviewing their first CD (Beethoven and Schubert) The Toronto Star raved: “Nothing short of electrifying; listen and weep.”

Programme: Mozart No. 23 in F major, K. 590; Hétu No. 1; Brahms No. 1 in C minor, op. 51, no. 1

Call Virtuosi Concerts Today at 786-9000 for tickets!

“Expressive, brilliant and elegant” is how The Strad described Timothy Fain. Not all of our Virtuosi guests are movie stars, but you heard him standing in – or, rather, ‘playing in’ – for Richard Gere in Bee Season and saw him playing onscreen in Black Swan. Michael Boriskin, the other half of this supernova duo, is esteemed by The New York Times as “a pianist of the highest rank, with the Midas touch!”

Programme: Solo and duo works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Jalbert and Franc

Call Virtuosi Concerts Today at 786-9000 for tickets!

Dear Friends:
Welcome to the 2012-13 Virtuosi Concerts Season—and what a season it is! Twelve concerts by some of the world’s best chamber musicians—plus a couple of additional jewels for our subscribers. We are proud to bring you the gold standard in chamber music you have come to expect from Virtuosi. Speaking of gold: one of the most awe-inspiring performances you will ever see on any stage, anywhere in the world, is a special Sunday afternoon Virtuosi performance by Van Cliburn gold medalist Nobuyuki Tsujii. Words cannot begin to express how you’ll feel once you have been hit by what Time Magazine calls “Nobu Fever”! And—as if “Nobu” weren’t enough—our regular Saturday evening performances also include solo performances by the breathtaking pianist Sonia Chan, who returns to transport our audience “to a place not of this world”, and the debut Virtuosi performance by 2011 Zara Nelsova Prize winner, cellist Se-Doo Park. I am excited to welcome back duo pianists Kyung & Michael Kim, who will thrill you with their consummate technique and musicality as they perform with the WSO Chamber Players. And I know violinist Timothy Fain and pianist Michael Boriskin will mesmerize in an evening ranging from Bach to Jalbert. This season includes a tantalizing trio of Trios: the Canadian Reiner and MYR Trios, and the American Amadeus Trio, who celebrate their 20th anniversary on our stage. Our larger ensembles include the exhilarating Volante Vento, with guest artist Ryszard Tyborowski; the captivating Magellan Ensemble; the electrifying New Orford String Quartet; and, capping our season, the “wonderfully ferocious and illuminating” Shanghai Quartet.

And those jewels I spoke of earlier? In addition to an already astounding season, we have two more WSO offerings available to Virtuosi subscribers at an exclusive Virtuosi price: Ben Heppner, the finest dramatic tenor of his generation in a once-in-a-lifetime performance with piano and the WSO and Nobu Tsujii, performing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the WSO. Details on how you, as a Virtuosi subscriber, can gain exclusive access to these two thrilling performances can be found in this brochure.

The Virtuosi Concerts subscription series provides the finest musicians playing for the finest audience in an incomparably intimate setting. You won’t want to miss a single one of these performances. Please join me for the 2012-13 season—our best yet!

Harry Strub,
Artistic Director

A rich program of chamber music, with arias featuring renowned soprano Maria Luz Alvarez, a cappella choral pieces and works for choir and strings – a wide range of repertoire by the early music “greats” such as Victoria, Gabrieli, Byrd and Jasquin des Préz, to works for choir and string quartet by Manitoba composers Andrew Balfour and Ken Nichols.

All three performances in Convocation Hall, University of Winnipeg. Seating is limited. $30/15; subscribers to Virtuosi Concerts $25/10. • Rush seats

Ayano Ninomiya & Janet Ying, violins; Phillip Ying, viola & David Ying, cello

We are proud to conclude the Virtuosi season with one of the world’s great ensembles – the Ying String Quartet – now making their Winnipeg debut, performing quartets of Arensky, Shostakovich and Beethoven. “An astonishing performance of exaltation and exhilaration” —Los Angeles Times. • $43/25

Anthea Kreston, violin; Jason Duckles, cello & Andrew Armstrong, piano

In their early years, these artists were mentored by Isaac Stern. As an ensemble, they make music that is “daring, lively and completely engrossing” —Seattle Times “You just don’t hear better chamber music playing than this” —San Diego Reader. They perform piano trios by Haydn, Beethoven and Shostakovich. • $33/15

Min-Jeong Koh & Sarah Nematallah, violins; Caitlin Boyle, viola & Rachel Desoer, cello

The Canadian and Russian Gold Medallists of the world’s foremost international music competitions, on their winners’ tour. Program TBA. • $33/15

Attacca Quartet

Amy Schroeder & Keiko Tokunaga, violins; Luke Fleming, viola & Andrew Yee, cello

The Attacca Quartet is the hottest classical ensemble in New York – now performing all 68 Haydn string quartets on a special series they created in that city. They fly in to make their Winnipeg debut on our stage following their stunning capture of the top prize in the 2011 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. “The Attacca plays…with precision and passion…and with fierce dedication. A sensational concert” (The New York Times) • $43/25

“Rolf Schulte is one of the most distinguished violinists of our day” —Andrew Porter, New Yorker. He returns to Winnipeg to perform a special program of works by Janáček, Ravel, Stravinsky, Schubert, and Beethoven’s Sonata in G. • $33/15

Call Virtuosi Concerts Today at 786-9000 for tickets!