SUBMITTED BY KIRSTEN BOLTON
FOR ARTSPRING
One of the most dynamic and exciting world-class ensembles of its generation, Vancouver-based Borealis String Quartet has received international critical acclaim for its fiery performances, passionate style and refined musical interpretation.
Founded in 2000, Borealis has toured extensively in North America, Europe and Asia, and performed at the Vancouver Olympics, on television, at Parliament Hill and international festivals with its signature synergy of classical, fusion, folk and world music.
The group performs at ArtSpring on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
What makes this ensemble unique, in addition to each member’s virtuoso musicianship, is the quartet’s passion to stretch the boundaries of the classical string quartet and transform the chamber music concert experience itself.
To this end, Borealis often includes popular music for younger generations, videos and cameras to enrich the visual presentation, as well as speaking from the stage to better engage audiences. The effort has attracted new audiences to the concert hall to discover chamber music, sometimes for the first time.
In that same spirit of outreach, since 2006, Borealis has worked with the Health Arts Society performing “Concerts In Care” programs for many people isolated in residential care without the opportunity to hear a rich live performance. This past season alone, the quartet performed over 100 concerts throughout British Columbia in a Beethoven Project with Health Arts Society.
Borealis has recorded seven CDs which feature the great classics as well as music written especially for the quartet. This includes folk song and lullaby albums comprised of songs from around the world. Others feature original works by Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Grieg and Respighi.
On his way back from Australia last week, violinist Yuel Yawney communicated what ArtSpring audiences could expect from the program on Feb. 8.
“We are very much looking forward to coming to Salt Spring Island,” said Yawney. “For the program, we will be performing music by Canadian composer Michael Conway Baker, his Aurora String Quartet especially written for us, Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8 and Grieg’s String Quartet in G minor, Op . 27.”
Described by The Globe and Mail as “four B.C. musicians who practically fly out of their chairs, so vigorous and physical is their playing,” the ensemble is comprised of Yawney, Patricia Shih, also violin, Nikita Pogrebnoy, viola, and Sungyong Lim, cello.
Tickets are available through ArtSpring.