October 10, 2006 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The famed Orion String Quartet, who have achieved international acclaim throughout their almost two decades of performing together, will present all six string quartets by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók over the course of two evenings at Dominion-Chalmers Church (355 Cooper St., at O’Connor) on Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17 at 20:00. These masterpieces of the chamber music repertoire are being presented as part of the National Arts Centre’s Hungarian 50th Anniversary Project, to honour 50 years of Hungarians in Canada following the Hungarian Revolution. Quartets Nos 1, 2 and 4 will be performed on Monday, October 16, and Quartets Nos. 3, 6 and 5 will be performed on Tuesday, October 17.

The NAC’s programme annotator Robert Markow writes: “Bartók’s six string quartets collectively rank as one of the monuments of twentieth-century chamber music, occupying a position roughly comparable to Beethoven’s in the eighteenth. No other major composer of the last century, save Shostakovich and perhaps Elliott Carter, so richly endowed the medium with his most significant musical thought and uncompromising personal expression. It was the only genre that held Bartók’s interest from the very beginning to the very end of his compositional career. Each of the six mature quartets is a masterpiece of convincing musical logic, controlled discipline and emotive power.” The opportunity to hear these six performed together is an event to be savoured by all lovers of chamber music.

Formed in 1987, the Orion String Quartet chose its name from the Orion constellation as a metaphor for the quality that each musician brings to the ensemble in its collective pursuit of its musical ideals. The quartet is made up of violinists Daniel Phillips and Todd Phillips (brothers who share the first violin chair), violist Steven Tenenbom, and cellist Timothy Eddy. They remain on the cutting edge of programming with numerous commissions from composers Chick Corea, Alexander Goehr, John Harbison, Leon Kirchner, Marc Neikrug, Peter Lieberson and Wynton Marsalis. The ensemble is Quartet-in-Residence at The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Mannes College of Music and Artists in Residence at Indiana University. In 2005, the Orion Quartet was the guest ensemble on the faculty of the National Arts Centre’s Summer Music Institute, and also performed in that summer’s Festival. Past collaborations include Pablo Casals, Rudolf Serkin, Pinchas Zukerman, Yo-Yo Ma, members of the Beaux Arts Trio, and the Budapest string quartets. The quartet is currently recording the complete Beethoven quartets for Koch Records and the first disc is scheduled for release this month.

Tickets for these special chamber music concerts by the Orion Quartet on Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17 at 20:00 are on sale now at $29 for adults and $14.50 for students. Buy both concerts for only $39 (adults) and $22 (students). Tickets are on sale at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’s website at www.nac-cna.ca. Tickets will also be sold at the entrance to Dominion Chalmers Church, 355 Cooper Street, one hour before the concert each evening.

Same-day Live Rush tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students (aged 13 to 29) are $10 at the NAC Box Office between 14:00 and 18:00 on the day of performance only, upon presentation of a valid Live Rush card. Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call 947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.

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For more information please contact:
Jane Morris, Communications Officer,
National Arts Centre Orchestra
(613) 947-7000, ext. 335
jmorris@nac-cna.ca