Tweet
The Oxford Times, UK
January 30, 2014 Thursday
Chilingirian Quartet - maestros to teach and play
by Nicola Lisle
Nicola Lisle talks to violinist Levon Chilingirian as he brings his
famous string quartet to Abingdon School
You wouldn't normally expect to hear an internationally-renowned
chamber ensemble performing in a school hall.
But the Chilingirian Quartet will feel quite at home next week at
Abingdon School, where they will hold a master class for the school's
advanced violinists and viola players before giving a public concert
in the evening. It will be the quartet's fourth such visit to the
school.
"It's become almost like a tradition," says Levon, who formed the
quartet in London in 1971.
"The first time the quartet played, the audience at the concert was
incredibly responsive and amazing, and it was such a great pleasure
for us. So on the one side there's the audience, who appreciated it,
and on the other side the students, who we get on very well with."
Education is an important part of the quartet's ethos, and they have
worked with music colleges and conservatoires all over the world. But
Abingdon is the only school the quartet works with on a regular basis,
and Levon is delighted with what he calls their "very special
relationship". As teachers themselves, quartet members appreciate the
dedication of the school's music teachers.
"We do realise that the hard work is done by the week-in, week-out
teachers," Levon says. "Hopefully we can reinforce what they've been
saying and inspire the boys further. "They will be playing what they
have prepared, and I am sure there will be a variety of things. There
will be sonatas, duos and quartets. "We're here to help them with the
music they are working on, and then they will come and hear us play."
This year's concert features two great masterpieces of the chamber
music repertoire - Beethoven's Rasumovsky Quartet Op.59 No.2 in E
Minor and Schubert's Death and the Maiden. "These are two incredible
pieces, very substantial, probably two of our favourite pieces,
probably the audience's as well, so it's a fantastic programme of
exhilarating music - a great Beethoven quartet and a great Schubert
quartet," he says.
The Chilingirian Quartet is one of the UK's longest-running quartets,
although Armenian-born Levon is now the only original member. He and
his co-founders started the quartet while still students at the Royal
College of Music, and he is somewhat surprised at their longevity.
"We certainly didn't intend in 1971 that we would be playing for over
40 years as a quartet, but that's what's happened." he laughs.
Michael Stinton, director of music at Abingdon, is delighted to be
welcoming Levon and the quartet back to the school. "The boys can
learn so much from hearing these internationally famous musicians who
are at the top of their game and to have the quartet coach our young
chamber musicians beforehand is a huge bonus," he says. "The quartet's
last visit in February 2012 was an unforgettable experience for us and
there's growing excitement as the next concert draws near."
"The combination of master-classes and concerts is something we love
so we're enormously looking forward to it," Levon says. "There's
always a great atmosphere, and we enjoy being at the school."
Chilingirian Quartet
Amey Theatre, Park Road, Abingdon
Wednesday, February 5, 7pm
[email protected] or www.abingdonbooking.info
January 30, 2014 Thursday
Chilingirian Quartet - maestros to teach and play
by Nicola Lisle
Nicola Lisle talks to violinist Levon Chilingirian as he brings his
famous string quartet to Abingdon School
You wouldn't normally expect to hear an internationally-renowned
chamber ensemble performing in a school hall.
But the Chilingirian Quartet will feel quite at home next week at
Abingdon School, where they will hold a master class for the school's
advanced violinists and viola players before giving a public concert
in the evening. It will be the quartet's fourth such visit to the
school.
"It's become almost like a tradition," says Levon, who formed the
quartet in London in 1971.
"The first time the quartet played, the audience at the concert was
incredibly responsive and amazing, and it was such a great pleasure
for us. So on the one side there's the audience, who appreciated it,
and on the other side the students, who we get on very well with."
Education is an important part of the quartet's ethos, and they have
worked with music colleges and conservatoires all over the world. But
Abingdon is the only school the quartet works with on a regular basis,
and Levon is delighted with what he calls their "very special
relationship". As teachers themselves, quartet members appreciate the
dedication of the school's music teachers.
"We do realise that the hard work is done by the week-in, week-out
teachers," Levon says. "Hopefully we can reinforce what they've been
saying and inspire the boys further. "They will be playing what they
have prepared, and I am sure there will be a variety of things. There
will be sonatas, duos and quartets. "We're here to help them with the
music they are working on, and then they will come and hear us play."
This year's concert features two great masterpieces of the chamber
music repertoire - Beethoven's Rasumovsky Quartet Op.59 No.2 in E
Minor and Schubert's Death and the Maiden. "These are two incredible
pieces, very substantial, probably two of our favourite pieces,
probably the audience's as well, so it's a fantastic programme of
exhilarating music - a great Beethoven quartet and a great Schubert
quartet," he says.
The Chilingirian Quartet is one of the UK's longest-running quartets,
although Armenian-born Levon is now the only original member. He and
his co-founders started the quartet while still students at the Royal
College of Music, and he is somewhat surprised at their longevity.
"We certainly didn't intend in 1971 that we would be playing for over
40 years as a quartet, but that's what's happened." he laughs.
Michael Stinton, director of music at Abingdon, is delighted to be
welcoming Levon and the quartet back to the school. "The boys can
learn so much from hearing these internationally famous musicians who
are at the top of their game and to have the quartet coach our young
chamber musicians beforehand is a huge bonus," he says. "The quartet's
last visit in February 2012 was an unforgettable experience for us and
there's growing excitement as the next concert draws near."
"The combination of master-classes and concerts is something we love
so we're enormously looking forward to it," Levon says. "There's
always a great atmosphere, and we enjoy being at the school."
Chilingirian Quartet
Amey Theatre, Park Road, Abingdon
Wednesday, February 5, 7pm
[email protected] or www.abingdonbooking.info