The Program

Mozart: Quartet in D Major, K. 575
Webern: Six Bagatelles, Op. 9
Beethoven: Quartet in A Minor, Op. 132

The Artists

Officially formed in 1969 at the Juilliard School, the Tokyo Quartet traces its origins to the Toho School of Music in Tokyo, where the founding members were deeply influenced by Professor Hideo Saito. Instilled with a deep commitment to chamber music, the original members of what would become the Tokyo Quartet eventually came to America for further study with Robert Mann, Raphael Hillyer, and Claus Adam. Soon after its formation, the quartet won First Prize at the Coleman Competition, the Munich Competition, and the Young Concert Artists International Auditions.  Since then, the quartet has collaborated with a remarkable array of artists and composers, built a comprehensive catalogue of critically acclaimed recordings, and established a distinguished teaching record.  Today the quartet comprises violist Kazuhide Isomura, a founding member; second violinist Kikuei Ikeda, who joined in 1974; cellist Clive Greensmith, a 1999 arrival; and first violinist Martin Beaver, with the group since the fall of 2002. The Tokyo has served as quartet-in-residence on the faculty of Yale University's School of Music since 1976 and has made over 30 recordings, seven of which have been nominated for Grammy Awards.  The quartet performs on a group of renowned Stradivarius instruments known as "The Paganini Quartet."  For more information on the Tokyo Quartet visit www.tokyoquartet.com.