About

Musique Royale announces Thalea String Quartet performing at St. Barnabas’ Church in Blue Rocks Thursday March 19 at 7pm. “Something Golden” is a radiant musical journey into the heart of the natural world. Featuring a collection of works written especially for the Thalea String Quartet—including a brand-new piece by Halifax-based composer India Gailey—this program invites listeners to travel by sound: from the windswept cliffs of Northern California, to the hushed, snow-laden forests of Massachusetts, and even into the hidden, transformative world inside a butterfly’s cocoon. These fresh, imaginative works are beautifully woven together with one of Joseph Haydn’s most cherished quartets, affectionately known as “The Bird,” creating a concert experience that feels both timeless and thrillingly new.

About The Artists

The Thalea String Quartet brings their signature vibrancy and emotional commitment to dynamic performances that reflect the past, present, and the future of the string quartet repertoire while celebrating diverse musical traditions from around the world. Fueled by the belief that chamber music is a powerful force for building community and human connection, the Thalea String Quartet has performed across North America, Europe, and China, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center, Massey Hall, and Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. They have shared the stage with luminaries of the chamber music world, including members of the Emerson, Brentano, and St. Lawrence String Quartets, and they have performed alongside celebrated artists including Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, violist Lawrence Power, acclaimed Canadian band BADBADNOTGOOD and visionary R+B artist Charlotte Day Wilson.

Committed to shaping and contributing to the future of the string quartet repertoire, the Thalea String Quartet has premiered dozens of new works and has collaborated on new commissions with composers including Osvaldo Golijov, Paola Prestini, Anthony R. Green, Akshaya Avril Tucker, and Tanner Porter.

Winners of the 2021 Ann Divine Educator Award from the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the members of the Thalea String Quartet have been celebrated for their innovative approach to education and community engagement.

Christopher Whitley (violin) is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Kumiko Sakamoto (violin) is from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; Lauren Spaulding (viola) is from San Antonio, Texas; and Alex Cox (cello) is from South Palm Beach, Florida.

Program Details

Terry Riley (1935- ) - Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) - String Quartet in C major Op. 33, No. 3: I. Allegro moderato

India Gailey (1992- ) - New Commission

Joseph Haydn - String Quartet in C major Op. 33, No. 3: ii. Scherzo - Trio

Gabriella Smith (1991- ) - Carrot Revolution

Akshaya Avril Tucker (1992- ) - Radha in the Forest

Joseph Haydn - String Quartet in C major Op. 33, No. 3: iii. Adagio ma non troppo

Andrew Yee (1984- ) - Something Golden

Joseph Haydn - String Quartet in C major Op. 33, No. 3: iv. Finale

For more please visit:
https://www.thaleastringquartet.com/