The Biava Quartet performs works by Haydn, Kodaly, and Mendelssohn on Friday, May 2 at 8 PM at the New York Society for Ethical Culture

 The Biava Quartet performs Haydn’s Quartet in C Major, Op. 54, No. 2; Kodály’s Quartet No. 2 in D Major, Op. 10; and Mendelssohn’s Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80 on Friday, May 2 at 8 PM at the New York Society for Ethical Culture (2 West 64th Street) on the 15th annual Lisa Arnhold Memorial Recital. The members of the Quartet are violinists Austin Hartman and Hyunsu Ko, violist Mary Persin, and cellist Jason Calloway. As Juilliard’s graduate resident string quartet, members of the Biava Quartet coach other Juilliard student ensembles as teaching assistants to the Juilliard String Quartet and participate in the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar.

FREE tickets are required for the concert and will be available at the Juilliard Box Office beginning on April 18. The Juilliard Box Office, located at 60 Lincoln Center Plaza is open Monday through Friday from 11 AM – 6 PM. The Box Office is accessible by elevator, escalator, or stairs located on W. 65th Street near Amsterdam Avenue. For further information, call (212) 769-7406 or go to www.juilliard.edu.

Haydn’s String Quartet in C Major, Op. 54, No. 1 is said to have been attached to Johann Tost, the principal second violinist of the court orchestra, during Haydn’s first tenure at the Esterházy court. Haydn is thought to have dedicated three sets of string quartets, 12 pieces, (Op. 54 – three quartets, Op. 55 – three quartets, and Op. 64 – six quartets) to Johann Tost. The work, which is in four movements: Vivace, Adagio, Menuetto (Allegretto), and Finale (Adagio-Presto-Adagio), is elegant, dramatic, and technically demanding.

Kodály’s String Quartet No. 2, Op. 10 was premiered in Budapest on May 7, 1918 by the Waldbauer-Kerpely Quartet (known outside of Hungary as the Hungarian Quartet). The ensemble had also introduced the first four of Bartók’s quartets. Kodály’s Second Quartet has a Hungarian folk influence to it and is performed in two movements without a break.

Mendelssohn composed his Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80 in Switzerland after the death of his beloved sister, Fanny. The work was completed in February, 1850 and published posthumously. The Quartet has four movements: Allegro assai – Presto, Allegro assai, Adagio, and Allegro molto.

The Lisa Arnhold Memorial Recital is performed annually by The Juilliard School’s graduate resident string quartet and presented through the generosity of the Arnhold Family. The members of the quartet, named Lisa Arnhold Fellows, receive free tuition and stipends.

The Biava Quartet was appointed Juilliard’s graduate resident string quartet in September 2007. Winner of the Naumburg Chamber Music Award and top prizes at the Premio Borciani and London International Competitions, the Quartet has established a following in the United States and abroad. Prior to its appointment at Juilliard, the Biava Quartet served as graduate quartet in residence with the Tokyo Quartet at Yale University. The ensemble takes its name from Maestro Luis Biava, who has been a mentor and inspiration to the Quartet since its inception.

The Biava Quartet will be performing on the inaugural Pro Musica Hebraica on April 8 at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. The ensemble has performed in major concert halls throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, including Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, Wigmore Hall, and the Baroque Art Hall in Seoul. Other highlights from recent seasons include appearances at the Mostly Mozart and Aspen Music festivals, Chautauqua Institution, and Pacific Music Festival in Japan.

The Quartet has championed the music of American composers Mason Bates, William Bolcom, John Harbison, and Ezra Laderman. Working closely with composer Stacy Garrop, the Quartet premiered and recorded her Second String Quartet Demons and Angels, which was released in fall 2007. They have also recorded on the Naxos and Cedille record labels and have been heard on London’s BBC Radio 3 and numerous radio broadcasts.

Founded in 1998 at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the members of the Biava Quartet hold advanced degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music, University of Southern California, Yale University, and The Juilliard School. To learn more about the Biava Quartet, visit www.biavaquartet.com.