Forty-five years ago a Canadian string quartet formed at the Jeunesses-Musicales du Canada summer camp at Parc National du Mont-Orford (today the Orford Arts Centre) in Quebec. The Orford String Quartet gave its first public concert in 1965. After an 18-year hiatus, the quartet has resumed once more, and will take the stage Tuesday, October 15 at Powell River Academy of Music’s hall.
Through its many recordings and tours both at home and abroad, the Orford String Quartet became one of Canada’s best-known and most illustrious musical ensembles. After 26 years and more than 2,000 concerts on six continents, the quartet disbanded, giving its last concert in 1991. In 2009 the New Orford String Quartet arose from the fame and tradition of its glorious predecessor, with a plan to revolutionize the concept of string quartet playing in Canada. It gave its first concert for a sold-out audience at the Orford Arts Centre. Reviews of the quartet’s debut concert applauded a performance that was “sweet, balanced and technically unassailable less than a week after their members met for the first time.”
In the short time since its creation, the quartet has seen astonishing success, giving annual concerts for national CBC broadcast and receiving unanimous critical acclaim, including two Opus awards for concert of the year.
Hailed for their “ravishingly beautiful tone” as well as their “extraordinary technical skills and musicianship,” the members of the quartet are all principal players in the Montreal and Toronto Symphony orchestras. Jonathan Crow and Andrew Wan play violin, Eric Nowlin plays viola and Brian Manker, cello. Rather than committing to a year-round schedule, the members meet for residencies in various centres for short periods of time, providing a fresh perspective on interpretations of standard string quartet repertoire.
The quartet is also dedicated to promoting Canadian works, both new commissions and neglected repertoire from the previous century. Each project includes performances of a major Canadian string quartet from the 20th century or a premiere of a newly composed work, and programs have included repertoire from a period that spans over 225 years, from Franz Joseph Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven to Sir Ernest MacMillan and Denis Gougeon.
In 2011 the quartet released its debut album of the final quartets of Franz Schubert and Beethoven. Nominated for a Juno Award in 2012, critics have described the recording as a “performance of true greatness and compelling intensity...stunning.”
Powell River audiences can listen for themselves at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, October 15 at Academy Hall. Tickets are $22 for adults and free for students 18 years and under with a student ticket voucher. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 604.485.9633, in person at 7280 Kemano Street, Monday through Thursday or at the door.
Readers can check online for more information about the New Orford String Quartet, or visit the Facebook page.
