Momenta Festival II in New York

Source: Momenta Quartet.

Sept. 28 – Oct. 2 @ Tenri, NYC

Momenta Quartet, the “outstanding” (George Grella) and “enterprising” (Russell Platt) string quartet based in New York City, happily announces Momenta Festival II, following the success of its inaugural Momenta Festival in 2015. Taking place September 28 – October 2 at the Tenri Cultural Institute of New York, Momenta Festival II is split into four programs, each curated by a different member of the ensemble: violinist Emilie-Anne Gendron, founding violist Stephanie Griffin, cellist Michael Haas, and Momenta’s newest addition, violinist Alex Shiozaki.

Joining Momenta in performance will be pianists Vicky Chow (October 2) and Nana Shi (September 29), and video artist John Gurrin (October 1). A special appearance will be made by “magnificent” (LA Times) soprano Tony Arnold (pictured left) and Indonesian experimental vocalist Nyak Ina Raseuki, better known as Ubiet, for a performance of Tony Prabowo‘s string quartet opera Pastoral on opening night.

F E S T I V A L P R O G R A M S

Wednesday, September 28 (8pm): Written in Fire
Curator: Stephanie Griffin, viola // Guest Artists: Tony Arnold, soprano; “Ubiet” Nyak Ina Raseuki, vocals

Matthew Greenbaum: Castelnau (2002) *
Wang Lu: New Work (2016) WORLD PREMIERE *
Leoš Janáček: String Quartet No. 2, “Intimate Letters” (1928)
Tony Prabowo: Pastoral, a string quartet opera (2005) *

Thursday, September 29 (8pm): An Interval of Infinity
Curator: Alex Shiozaki, violin // Guest Artist: Nana Shi, piano

Joji Yuasa: Solitude — in Memoriam T.T. (1997)
Somei Satoh: Birds in warped time II (1980)
Toru Takemitsu: A Way a Lone (1980)
Akira Nishimura: Sonata II, “Trance Medium” (2005)
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in F Major, op. 135 (1826)

Saturday, October 1 (8pm): At the Forest’s Edge
Curator: Emilie-Anne Gendron, violin // Guest Artist: John Gurrin, video art
Eugène Ysaÿe: Sonata in G Major, Op. 27/5 (1923)
John Cage: String Quartet in Four Parts (1950)
György Kurtág: Selections from Signs, Games, and Messages (1986—)
Perpetuum mobile (1987/1991)
Hommage à John Cage—­­Faltering Words (1987/1991)
…für den, der heimlich lauschet… (“For those who listen secretly,” 2001)
…féerie d’automne… (“Autumn fairy­world,” 2004)
Népdalféle (“Folk Tune,” 1987/1994)
The Carenza Jig (1989/1997)
Edvard Grieg: String Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 27

Sunday, October 2 (8pm): Dark Matter
Curator: Michael Haas, cello // Guest Artist: Vicky Chow, piano

Christopher Stark: Winter Music (2016) NY PREMIERE *
Henri Dutilleux: Ainsi la Nuit (1976)
Alberto Ginastera: Pampeana No. 2, Op. 21 (1952)
Henri Dutilleux: Trois Strophes sur le nom Sacher (1976)
Alberto Ginastera: Quintet for piano and strings, Op. 29 (1963)