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| Emerson String Quartet |
| A | EE |
| Short Biography |
Eugene Drucker | Violin; Philip Setzer | Violin; Lawrence Dutton | Viola; David Finckel | Cello Renowned for its insightful performances, dynamic artistry and technical mastery, the Emerson String Quartet has amassed an impressive list of achievements over three decades: a brilliant series of recordings exclusively documented by Deutsche Grammophon since 1987, eight Grammy Awards including two for Best Classical Album, an unprecedented honor for a chamber music group, three Gramophone Awards and frequent performances in major concert halls throughout the world. The ensemble is lauded globally as a string quartet that approaches both classical and contemporary repertoire with equal mastery and enthusiasm. The 2007-2008 season comprises over 80 worldwide engagements, with a particular focus on Europe. In late August and early September, the quartet will appear at the festivals of Gstaad, Salzburg, Schwarzenberg, Merano, Ascona, Copenhagen, Cologne and Stockholm. The quartet returns to Europe throughout the season for a three-concert series at London’s Wigmore Hall, another three-concert series at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, a two-concert series at Vienna’s Konzerthaus, its first appearance at Cité de la Musique in Paris and a pair of concerts at the Teatro della Pergola in Florence, with additional concerts in Spain, Austria, France, the UK, Germany and Italy. The quartet’s North American tours include stops in San Francisco, Stanford, Portland, Dallas, Philadelphia, Ann Arbor, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Vancouver, Scottsdale, Savannah and Houston. The Emerson continues its residency at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, now in its 28th sold-out season, and appears in New York with pianist Gilbert Kalish for Lincoln Center’s Great Performers and with pianist Yefim Bronfman at Carnegie Hall. The Quartet serves as quartet-in-residence at Stony Brook University, where, in addition to chamber music coaching throughout the academic year, they have conducted intensive string quartet workshops in 2004 and 2006 with plans for a third festival in 2009. The Quartet has overseen three Professional Training Workshops at Carnegie’s Weill Music Institute. In March 2004 the Quartet was named the 18th recipient of the 2004 Avery Fisher Prize – another first for a chamber ensemble. Formed in 1976, the Emerson String Quartet took its name from the American poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. Violinists Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer alternate in the first chair position and are joined by violist Lawrence Dutton and cellist David Finckel. Since January 2002, the Emerson has performed while standing – the cellist plays on a podium – and incorporates this practice in all appearances. The Quartet is based in New York City. 2007/2008 If you wish to revise this biography, please contact Mark Stephan Buhl Artists Management. Please use material of the current season only. |
