“The St. Martin’s musicians played all this music like gourmet chefs.” The Houston Post

Sponsored by Mark Carson Associates and First National Bank of Colorado

Date and Time:
Saturday, February 14, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.

Single Ticket Prices:
$10, 15, 22, 32, 40 (discounts available for seniors, youth, and groups)
SOLD OUT

Season Ticket Packages:
This concert is part of the Artist Series and Classic Artist Series season ticket packages.

Location:
Macky Auditorium

Running Time:
1.5 to 2 hours

Preconcert:
A Conversation with Tom Riis, Professor of Musicology
6:45 p.m., Macky Room 102

Event Overview:
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with this remarkable group of eight principal players from the world famous Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Under the leadership of violinist Kenneth Sillito, this ensemble is dedicated to creating dynamic performances of larger chamber works without a conductor.

Program:
BORODIN - Sextet in Two Movements
DVORÁK - Sextet for Strings in A Major, Op. 48
SHOSTAKOVICH - Prelude and Scherzo, Op. 11 (1925)
MENDELSSOHN - Octet for Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 20

Personnel and Bio:
Violin: Kenneth Sillito (leader)
Harvey de Souza
Mark Butler
Jan Peter Schmolck
Viola: Robert Smissen
Duncan Ferguson
Cello: Stephen Orton
John Heley

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields was formed in 1959 by a group of eleven enthusiastic musicians with the aim of performing in public without a conductor. Their first three recordings led to a succession of long-term contracts, and the Academy quickly took their place among the most recorded ensembles in history. As the repertoire expanded from Baroque to Mozart, Bartók and Beethoven, so it became necessary for the principal violin, Neville Marriner, to conduct the larger orchestra.

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble was created in 1967 to perform the larger chamber works—from quintets to octets—with players who customarily work together, instead of the usual string quartet with additional guests. Drawn from the principal players of the orchestra, the Chamber Ensemble tours as a string octet, string sextet, and in other configurations including winds. Its touring commitments are extensive, with annual visits to France, Germany, and Spain, and frequent tours to North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan. Contracts with Philips Classics, Hyperion, and Chandos have led to the release of over thirty CDs by the Chamber Ensemble.

Kenneth Sillito (violin, leader) has been Associate Artistic Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and leader of the Chamber Ensemble since 1980, taking the ensemble to new heights. He won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 14, studying with David Martin. A further scholarship took him to Rome to study with Remy Principe. On returning to England he became associate leader of the English Chamber Orchestra, subsequently becoming leader until 1973. In 1967 Kenneth Sillito founded the Gabrieli String Quartet and remained their leader until 1987, during which time the Quartet gained an international reputation. In 1971, he was honored by being made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music.

Links:
www.academysmif.co.uk

Audio:
Listen to or purchase music from the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble at Barnes&Noble.com. A portion of your purchase will be donated to CU Concerts.
Mozart - Complete Quintets, Vol. 1