IVES QUARTET

The Ives Quartet has captivated audiences from San Francisco to New York, Taiwan to London. Committed to presenting the full scope of the string quartet literature, the Ives Quartet continues to earn critical and popular acclaim for the depth and diversity of its programming, with repertoire ranging from recognised classics and neglected masterpieces of the past to new commissions and distinctive collaborations with guest artists. Formerly in residence at Stanford University as the Stanford String Quartet from 1983-98, the Quartet departed the university to seek greater artistic independence.

A fully-independent touring and recording ensemble, the Ives now performs home season concert series in San Francisco, San Jose, and on the Peninsula and appears on noted chamber music series and festivals nationwide. In addition, the Quartet devotes time to a wide range of educational projects, from performing for school-aged children to visiting Trinity College for annual residency activities. Their success in commissioning such distinguished artists as Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom resulted in a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support a recording of contemporary American quartets. Releases include works by Bolcom, Ben Johnston, Marc Neikrug, and Crockett, as well as works by Fauré, Bridge, Milhaud, and Brahms.

The Ives Quartet combines the talent and experience of the international, solo, orchestral, chamber, and recording careers of its artist members Bettina Mussumeli, Susan Freier, Jodi Levitz and Stephen Harrison. Each player is an acclaimed performer on his/her instrument, earning distinction with other renowned chamber music ensembles, including the Chester Quartet, the Boston Composers’ String Quartet, the New England Piano Quartette, and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. This variety and breadth in each artist’s background contributes to the ensemble’s unique sound. The Ives Quartet has given the premières of commissioned scores by American composers Ben Johnston, William Bolcom, Donald Crockett, Henri Lazarof, Mark Volkert, Eric Sawyer, and Andrew Norman.

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com
PORTER, Q.: String Quartets Nos. 1-4	8.559305