The Andy Warhol Museum
April 1
8 p.m.
Let your ears travel to new sonic terrains this spring. Fans of classical and contemporary music alike won’t want to miss the latest concert series co-presented by Music on the Edge (MOTE) and The Andy Warhol Museum.
Presented by the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Music, MOTE is co-directed by faculty composers Eric Moe and Mathew Rosenblum. Presenting six concerts each year, MOTE is dedicated to showcasing the performance of contemporary music by internationally acclaimed professional musicians—from established Grammy nominees to new cutting-edge ensembles.
Conducted by Roger Zahab, concerts showcase visiting artists as well as the MOTE Chamber Orchestra, and are open to the public.
MOTE’s spring string series kicks off on Sunday, March 26 with a concert by the Arditti Quartet and guitarist Eliot Fisk. Led by celebrated British violinist Irvine Arditti, the quartet will perform works by Italian composer Luciano Berio, Greek-French composer Iannis Xenakis, Hungarian composer György Kurtág, American composer David Felder, and Mexican composer Hilda Paredes.
Founded in 1974, the award-winning Arditti Quartet has performed in major concert halls and cultural festivals around the globe. Winner of the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize for lifetime achievement, the group is admired for its energetic and technically challenging interpretations of contemporary and 20th-century music, its vast and varied discography, and its collaborations with living composers.
Joining Arditti will be world-renowned guitarist Eliot Fisk, beloved for his charismatic performances, adventurous aesthetic and virtuosic repertoire. Often found taking art music into unconventional settings such as schools, senior centers, logging camps and prisons, Fisk was mentored by the legendary, virtuoso Spanish classical guitarist Andrés Segovia. He has performed with prominent orchestras around the globe, as well as with artists from varied genres including jazz, flamenco, and Turkish music.
The MOTE series continues on Saturday, April 1 with a concert by Italy’s Quartetto di Venezia, who will perform works by the American composers Curtis Cacioppo, Kendall Kennison and Robert Maggio—as well as selections by Pittsburgh’s own Roger Zahab.
In addition to appearing internationally and on numerous television and radio programs, the Quartetto di Venezia has performed for prominent figures such as Pope John Paul II and the 11th president of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano. The ensemble recently released a three-CD set of Luigi Cherubini’s Six String Quartets via Decca.
Looking for more events? Check out our 11 Pittsburgh events not to miss in March, Top 10 family events in Pittsburgh this March and Your ultimate guide to Pittsburgh concerts this spring feature stories.