ANZÛ QUARTET (JAV) | ADJUST | PLAYGROUND

ANZÛ QUARTET | ADJUST
An event in the PLAYGROUND contemporary music concert series

Tuesday 1 December, 6 pm
Sapieha Palace, 13 L. Sapiegos Street, Vilnius

‘Titans of new music’ (‘Which Sinfonia’) – this is how music critics have described Anzû Quartet. Bringing together four internationally acclaimed virtuosos of the contemporary music scene – violinist Olivia De Prato, cellist Ashley Bathgate, clarinettist Ken Thomson and pianist Karl Larson – the ensemble combines exceptional musical experience, uncompromising virtuosity and a deep passion for the music of our time. Long-standing contributors to New York’s vibrant contemporary music scene, the quartet members have performed with acclaimed ensembles such as Bang on a Can All-Stars, Mivos Quartet, Ensemble Signal and Bearthoven. Together, they have premiered works by some of today's most influential composers in prestigious concert halls around the world. Founded in 2020 and inspired by Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, Anzû Quartet has channelled its creative energy into an ambitious mission: to expand the repertoire for this unusual instrumental combination by commissioning new works from leading composers of our time.

The Anzû Quartet comes to Lithuania as part of the international contemporary music concert series PLAYGROUND, presenting a programme entitled adjust. The programme features two works written especially for the ensemble: Ken Thomson’s Uneasy (2017–2019) and Anna Webber’s adjust (2022). Anxiety, tension, transformation and the struggle to adapt to an ever-changing world lie at the heart of both compositions, which emerged against a backdrop of major social upheaval. From the pre-pandemic atmosphere of unease in New York to a world searching for a new equilibrium in the aftermath of the pandemic, these experiences find expression in complex rhythms, unpredictable sonic trajectories and constantly shifting musical structures.

There aren’t many safe choices in the Anzû Quartet’s repertoire. They are drawn to music in which performers must not only master technically demanding scores but also play an active role in shaping the sound. Ken Thomson and Anna Webber know these musicians, their capabilities and their musical thinking inside out. Both works were written not for an abstract instrumental ensemble but specifically for these four performers. And perhaps this is the most interesting aspect of the programme: we will hear music composed for specific people, their individual voices and the ensemble’s collective sound.

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Main Concert Producer: Tarp tylos
Co-production: Sapieha Palace
Curator: Arnas Kmieliauskas
Strategic Partner: Lithuanian Composers’ Union
Media Partners: LRT Klasika, Radio Vilnius
Accommodation Partner: St. Palace Hotel
Sponsor: Baltic-American Freedom Foundation, G. Rūkas.ŪKAS Styginiai instrumentai ir Strykai
Funded by: Lithuanian Council for Culture, LATGA, Vilnius City Municipality

This program is made possible by funding from the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation (BAFF). For more information about BAFF scholarships and speaker support , visit: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Visual Design: Lauryna Narkevičiūtė
Text Editing and Translation: Alexandra Bondarev