String Quartet heads into final year

By: John G. Funchion

            The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival plays host to the venerable Tokyo String Quartet’s final full season here in Norfolk following thirty five years as its in-residence, distinguished chamber music ensemble.

            Consisting of Martin Beaver, first violin; Kikuei Ikedi, second violin; Kazuhide Isomura, viola; and Clive Greensmith, cello, the group will officially retire at the end of the 2012-2013 season. They will perform a final benefit concert for the restoration of the Music Shed on Saturday July 6, 2013.

            Famed custodians of the Nippon Music Foundation’s collection of four instruments known as the Paganini Stradivari, the quartet along with the Artis and Keller quartets will highlight this season’s schedule by playing all sixteen of the Beethoven Quartets.

            Following retirement and disbanding of the group, Beaver and Greensmith will assume permanent teaching positions at the prestigious Colburn School in Los Angeles. Mr. Isomura, the only original member of the quartet, and Mr. Ikeda will be involved in family and private tutoring.

            In announcing their retirement, Festival Director Paul Hawkshaw said “We have been blessed to have such a superb ensemble as part of the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival for so many years. We will miss them.”

            As one of chamber music’s most famous ensembles, the Tokyo Quartet has played at venues all over the world with exquisite form and content. In their interpretive insight, from the classical to the contemporary, they have performed with grace, panache and precision, teeming with an energy that riveted audiences whereever they went.

            Within the international musical landscape, from Beethoven and Mozart to Schoenberg, the formidable Tokyo Quartet is known for intoxicating freedom of technical and harmonic expression. They also made it a point, in the rigorous musical summer program here in Norfolk, to share that expertise with hundreds of aspiring, talented young string players from everywhere in the world.

            They played over 100 concerts annually in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and the Far East. During that same period the legendary group released more than forty landmark recordings and received seven Grammy nominations.

            When asked about the impact of their absence, Hawkshaw said “they are close friends and wonderful teachers.  Norfolk will be different without them.” Regarding their replacement, he added “We will be making a very exciting announcement about Norfolk 2013 in the Fall. I am certain our audiences and students will be pleased.”

            Cellist Greensmith, in a nostalgic note, said “it has been a humbling and extraordinary experience to be part of such an ensemble. It is time to step away from the hectic travel schedule to pursue our individual performing and teaching interests.”

            Additional information about the Tokyo String Quartet can be obtained at their website: www.tokyoquartet.com.