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Quartetto Gelato Performs at Anderson Center
Popular Ensemble Performs with novo4tet
On Saturday April 26, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. in the Anderson
Center at Binghamton University, the Binghamton
Philharmonic presents a special concert by Quartetto
Gelato. Classical in intent, eclectic by design, with a performance
repertoire that travels imaginatively between classical masterworks,
operatic arias and the sizzling energy of tangos, gypsy and folk songs,
Quartetto Gelato's relaxed stage presence and delightful humor establishes
an immediate rapport with traditional and non-traditional classical
audiences alike. Quartetto Gelato is Peter DeSotto
(tenor, violin and mandolin), Alexander Sevastian
(accordion, piano and bandoneon), Kornel Wolnak (clarinet)
and Carina Reeves (cello). For this concert, they
will be joined by novo4tet, a quartet made up of the
principal string players of the Binghamton Philharmonic: violinists
Uli Speth and Amy Christian, violist
Martha Brody and cellist Hakan Tayga Hromek.
Tickets range from $29-$40 for adults, $26-$37 for seniors (over 60) and
$10 for students and children. Call 607-723-3931 for
tickets and information. Tickets may be purchased online at
www.binghamtonphilharmonic.org. The
Binghamton Philharmonic has recently improved its website so patrons can now
choose their seats online.
This performance is made possible with public funds from the New
York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. General
Operating Support is provided to the Binghamton Philharmonic by a grant from
the United Cultural Fund, a program of the Broome
County Arts Council. The Binghamton Philharmonic's 2007-2008
Season is also made possible by a grant from The New York State
Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at
Rockefeller Philanthropy
Quartetto Gelato
Peter DeSotto - tenor, violin, mandolin
Alexander Sevastian - accordion, piano, bandoneon
Kornel Wolnak - clarinet
Carina Reeves - cello
For over a decade, this dazzling ensemble has enchanted audiences and
critics worldwide with their exotic blend of musical virtuosity, artistic
passion and charismatic presence. Quartetto Gelato
established themselves as dominant forces on the emerging "new classical"
scene early in their career by winning the coveted title of NPR Performance
Today's Debut Artist of the Year in 1996. Today, Quartetto Gelato continues
its reign as an international sensation with repeat sold-out performances
throughout the globe.
Classical in intent, eclectic by design, Quartetto Gelato
not only thrills its audiences with the mastery of six instruments, but
offers the wonderfully unexpected bonus of a brilliant operatic tenor. With
a performance repertoire that travels imaginatively between classical
masterworks, operatic arias and the sizzling energy of tangos, gypsy and
folk songs, the group's relaxed stage presence and delightful humor
establishes an immediate rapport with traditional and non-traditional
classical audiences alike. Performed without scores, their shows radiate a
sense of spontaneity and excitement rarely seen on the classical stage.
The 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons featured over 175 concerts in recital
and with orchestras throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. In November
2005, the quartet returned to Sweden for a 14 concert tour and toured
Estonia for the first time, performing 3 sold-out concerts. In addition,
January 1, 2007 marked the debut broadcast of the group's first DVD on PBS
stations throughout the U.S. Filmed in High Definition, it is entitled
Quartetto Gelato: A Concert in Wine Country! In
March 2007 it will be released commercially to the general public.
Active in the recording studio, the quartet's first compilation CD was released on
November 9th, 2005. Favourite Flavours, features highlights drawn
from the 5 CDs in the catalogue with "Besame Mucho", a special gem from
their newest concert program Latin America: Hot and Cool.
Previously Quartetto Gelato released Quartetto Gelato
Travels the Orient Express celebrating the original journey of the
famous train and featuring music from London to Istanbul. Since the release
in spring of 2004, the recording has met with extensive critical and public
acclaim. The previous recordings, which have played a significant role in
the group's increasing popularity, are Neapolitan Café, Aria
Fresca, Rustic Chivalry and their debut recording, simply
entitled Quartetto Gelato. The latter two CDs have literally been
heard around the world, since they accompanied Canadian astronaut, Dr.
Robert Thirsk, during his NASA flight on board the space shuttle Columbia in
1997.
Quartetto Gelato has also graced the tracks of the
Hollywood film industry. The group was featured on the soundtrack recording
of the major motion picture Only You, starring Marisa Tomei and
Robert Downey Jr., on the Sony label. In 2005, the quartet was featured on
the soundtrack of the Canadian independent film release, Looking for
Angelina. Additionally, they have been featured as guest artists on the
hit CD recording of Cape Breton fiddler, Ashley McIsaak.
Classical radio listeners across the continent know Quartetto Gelato by
their instantly recognizable sound, which is broadcast frequently on the
CBC, PRI and NPR networks. In particular, the band has been featured
regularly on NPR's popular Performance Today program, which
recognized Quartetto Gelato in 1996 by presenting them with their award for
"Debut Artist of the Year." The panel of music critics who made that
selection characterized the quartet as "an amazing ensemble that
achieves the nearly impossible: they play salon music with real style and
classical music with real precision; Great chops and a commitment in all
that they play."
The summer of 2005 saw two major achievements. The first was the world debut
at the Stratford Festival of their new program for young adults Love You
Forever which featured the narration by author Robert Munsch. This
12-minute commissioned piece set to music the now-famous children's classic
with music composed by Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich. The piece brought
a combination of tears and ovations as the final note wafted over the
audience. The second piece, entitled 4X4, introduced a new collaborative
program with Quartetto Gelato combining forces with a guest
string quartet. Both programs were recorded for CBC Radio and are currently
available as program options.
Unfortunately, 2006 finished off on a sad note for both the quartet and fans
alike. In spite of a valiant attempt at overcoming a form of rare cancer,
oboist and founding member of Quartetto Gelato Cynthia Steljes lost her
battle with malignant Mesothelioma in late December 2006. Cynthia was a
special soul whose contributions to the arts and to the lives of all who
knew her were too many to count. She will be missed by all and words cannot
begin to describe the blessing that we feel to have had her in our lives -
no matter how briefly.
novo4tet
novo4tet is a recently formed string quartet based in Binghamton, NY.
Violinists Uli Speth and Amy Christian, violist
Martha Brody and cellist Hakan Tayga Hromek met through the Binghamton Philharmonic, where they serve
as the four principal string players. All four are also active free
lance musicians and are members of various orchestras throughout New York
State. novo4tet's first performance was at the Broome County Arts Council's
2005 Heart of the Arts Awards, an event they have now performed at three
times. The quartet has also performed at First Night Binghamton,
Spool.mfg Gallery, The Phelps Mansion Museum and First Presbyterian Church
of Binghamton. In the 2007-2008 season, novo4tet performed as part of
the Binghamton Philharmonic's South of the Border: Explorations series,
working with composer Carlos Sánchez-Gutiérrez. novo4tet's mission is
to present eclectic programs that pair classics of the past with those of
the future and partner music with the other arts, that they may all
illuminate each other with fresh light.