Sunday 16 November

Teatrostudio

Quatuor Bozzini
Clemens Merkel
violin
Alissa Cheung violin
Stéphanie Bozzini viola
Isabelle Bozzini cello

Praised for its ‘intense musicality and immense sensitivity’ (Musicworks, Canada), the Quatuor Bozzini has been described by Bandcamp Daily as ‘one of the most daring string quartets in the world.’ For this concert, Oggimusica presents a programme of Swiss and Canadian composers with different approaches to composition, ranging from social criticism to acoustic and perceptual experimentation.
The work of Swiss-Nigerian composer Charles Uzor addresses themes of racism and social injustice through music, creating a powerful sound memorial. The piece 8'46'' George Floyd in memoriam commemorates the tragic death of George Floyd. The duration of the piece, 8 minutes and 46 seconds, corresponds exactly to the time Floyd was held down during his arrest.  
Another sound universe is that of Jürg Frey. The quartet composed in 1988 is characteristic of his minimalist and contemplative style. Frey's music often explores the concept of immobility and imperceptible movement, with gradual changes that accumulate over time. His approach to composition invites attentive and profound listening, revealing subtle sonic and harmonic nuances.
You can also listen to Koan for String Quartet by James Tenney. Written in 1984, this piece is an adaptation for string quartet of the earlier Koan for solo violin from 1971. Tenney uses a natural intonation system and focuses on the perceptual effects of microtonal intervals. The piece explores psychoacoustic phenomena such as difference tones, creating a complex and fascinating listening experience.

Since 1999, the Quatuor Bozzini has been an original voice in support of new, experimental and classical music. A driving force behind Montreal's hyper-creative scene, the quartet cultivates an approach that embraces risk, experimentation and collaboration, venturing off the beaten track. With its rigorous quality standards, it has contributed to the creation of a diverse repertoire that ignores trends and fads. Since 2000, the Quatuor Bozzini has given 931 concerts, including 351 in Montreal and 466 in the rest of Canada and abroad. In addition, the ensemble has performed 500 world premieres and commissioned more than 400 new works. Its open, collaborative and artist-led approach has enabled it to produce numerous innovative and highly acclaimed productions, including interdisciplinary projects with video, theatre and dance.

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