ForImmediateRelease April2,2012

Contact:LeahAmmon,(408)9615814 lammon@montalvoarts.org

TheAmstelQuartetbringsSaxophoneSoundtoMontalvo
Awardwinning,internationallyrenownedsaxophonequartetperformsApril22
NothingshortofastoundingabrilliantensembleThebestsaxophonequartetintheworld FanfareMagazine DutchRadio1

Above,lefttoright:BasApswoude(tenorsaxophone),OlivierSliepen(altosaxophone),TiesMellema(baritonesaxophone),and RemkoJek(sopranosaxophone)aretheAmstelQuartet.

SARATOGA,Calif.Agroupofmusicalpioneers,theAmstelQuartetisoneofthemost accomplishedandwidelyadmiredquartetsofsaxophonistsintheworld.Inconcert,theyare consummateperformersdisplayinganatural,engagingshowmanshipandanexquisiteclarityof soundthatbringsaudiencestotheirfeet.Theywillshowcasetheirremarkableabilitiesatthe MontalvoArtsCenteronSunday,April22,at3pm.Ticketsmaybepurchasedthroughthe MontalvoBoxOfficeorviaTicketmaster.com. Thisperformance,partoftheMontalvoVillaChamberMusicSeries,willgiveaudiencemembers theopportunitytoenjoyfinechambermusiconaSundayafternoonintheserenityandelegant charmoftheGrandHallinMontalvosHistoricVilla.

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Thesaxophoneis,relativelyspeaking,ayoungmusicalinstrument:inventedinthe1840sbyBelgian instrumentmakerAdolpheSax,itishundredsofyearsyoungerthantheviolinandtheharpsichord, thousandsofyearsyoungerthanthefluteandthedrums.Certainpreeminentcomposersofthe 20thand21stcenturieshaverecognizeditsmelodicpotential,andwrittenmajorpiecesspecifically forthesaxophone,includingClaudeDebussy,GyrgyLigeti,PhilipGlass,MichaelNyman,Peteris VaskandArvoPrt. Liketheirchoseninstruments,AmstelQuartetmembersBasApswoude,OlivierSliepen,Ties Mellema,andRemkoJek,arerelativelyyoungmusicianswhosemusicalpotential,nonetheless,has beenenthusiasticallyrecognized.Theyhavebeenperformingtogetherasagroupsince1997,when theymetwhiletouringwiththeDutchNationalYouthOrchestra.Eachmemberapassionateand talentedmusiciansinhisownright,theywereweregalvanizedbytheirdesiretopushthe boundariesofconventionalsaxophonerepertoireandraiseawarenessandappreciationforthe instrument.TheydecidedtonametheirensembleaftertheAmstelRiver,whichflowsthroughthe centerofAmsterdam,toreflecttheirapproachtomusicmaking:everevolvingandselfrenewing, theriverreflectsthroughitsownwateryprismtheenergy,history,andlifetakingplaceonits banks. Fortheirrepertoire,thequartetaugmentscompositionsspecificallyforsaxophonewiththeirown reworkingsofchambermusic,givingfreshlifetoclassicalmaterial.Theyalsofrequentlycollaborate withartistsfromotherdisciplines,includingdance,musicaltheatre,mime,andcinema,todiscover newmusicalopportunities.TheyhavetouredextensivelyallovertheUnitedStatesandEurope, performinginsuchvenuesastheWeillRecitalHallatCarnegieHallandtheMerkinConcertHallin NewYork,theConcertgebouwinAmsterdam,VredenburginUtrecht,theStadtkircheinDarmstadt. Theyhavebeenhonoredwithanumberofprestigiousinternationalprizes,includingConcert ArtistsGuildManagementAward,TheKersjesPrize,theGaudeamusInterpretersConcoursandthe HemkePrizeforChamberMusic.Todate,theyhaverecordedsevenCDs.

THEAMSTELQUARTET
What:ConcertbyinnovativeDutchsaxophonequartet When:Sunday,April22,at3pm Where:TheHistoricVillaattheMontalvoArtsCenter

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Admission:General:$30|Members:$25|StudentswithID:$10.Ticketsavailablethroughthe MontalvoBoxOffice,MondayFriday,10am4pmat(408)9615858.Spaceislimited. ###

AboutMontalvoArtsCenter MontalvoArtsCenterisanoasisofcultureandnaturewhosemissionisto createandpresentartsofalltypes,nurtureartists,anduseourhistoricVilla, buildings,andgroundsininnovativewaysthatengagepeopleinthecreative process.LocatedinSiliconValley'sSaratogahills,MontalvoArtsCenter occupiesaMediterraneanstylevillaon175stunningacres,includingan internationalartistresidencyprogram.SenatorJamesPhelanleftthehistoric villaandgroundstothepeopleofCaliforniafortheencouragementofart, music,literatureandarchitecture.InJanuary2005,theorganizationchanged itsnamefromMontalvotoMontalvoArtsCentertocommemorateits 75thyearasanartscenterandtobettercommunicateitsmissionto expandinglocal,nationalandinternationalaudiences.Montalvocelebratesits centennialin2012.FormoreinformationaboutMontalvoArtsCenter,call (408)9615800orvisithttp://www.montalvoarts.org/.

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