The Afiara String Quartet makes its Coast Recital Society debut Sunday afternoon, Feb. 13, at the Raven's Cry Theatre in Sechelt. The concert begins at 2:30 with a pre-concert chat at 1:30 p.m.
This outstanding ensemble is known for the startling intensity and compelling musical insight of their performances. They were top prize winners at last year's Banff International String Quartet Competition, where they were also awarded the Szekely Prize for the best performance of a quartet by Beethoven. The Afiara will perform three great quartets by Haydn, Shostakovich and Beethoven.
"We look forward to hearing this wonderful young ensemble perform this exceptional and challenging program," said CRS artistic director Frances Heinsheimer Wainwright.
The Afiara Quartet is currently the graduate resident string quartet at The Juilliard School in New York, where they serve as teaching assistants to the renowned Juilliard String Quartet.
They are also Visiting-Quartet-in-Resi-dence at the Glenn Gould School at Toronto's Royal Con-servatory of Music.
Winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, the Young Canadian Musicians Award and top prizes at the Munich ARD International Music Competition, the Afiara balances a lively interest in new works with deep insight into core classical repertoire. The Afiara has been heard on many European and North American radio stations, including CBC Radio 2 and New York's WQXR, and are featured in the Road to Banff documentary.
Their debut CD features quartets by Mendelssohn and Schubert, as well as the Mendelssohn Octet with the Alexander String Quartet. The Afiara String Quartet takes its name from the Spanish fiar, meaning to trust, a basic element vital to the depth and joy of its music-making.
For ticket information, contact Mary Lea Bell at 604-886-8330.
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