“There are certain works for string quartet that are so demanding, with ensemble so intricate, that you can only tackle them with a group that’s truly dedicated,” Brad Ottesen, violist in the FSQ and professional practice associate professor in the Caine College of the Arts, said.

“Learning all six Bartok quartets in the entirety was a bucket list item for me. Learning one of these quartets is like climbing a small mountain—being able to perform all 6 in a cycle is a physical and intellectual challenge that I think we’re all looking forward to.”

Ottesen said the FSQ never plays Bartok without speaking to the audience from the stage in order to guide them through the work. By bringing in Laki, the quartet is hoping to give the audience the layers of understanding that are necessary to heighten the experience of hearing the pieces performed live.

Laki, a native of Budapest, graduated from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in 1979 and received a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in 1989. He served as program annotator of the Cleveland Orchestra and has taught courses at Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, John Carroll University and Oberlin College. Since 2007, he has served as a visiting professor at Bard College. Laki is the author of numerous musicological articles and editor of Bartok and His World. He writes program notes for many orchestras and performing arts organizations around the country and lectures at many international conferences, most recently in Budapest.

“We are thrilled and honored that Dr. Laki would join us for this project,” Robert Waters, first violinist in the FSQ and professional practice associate professor in the CCA, said. “His insight into Bartok’s language, life and influences runs very deep.”

Laki will be working with the FSQ’s students during the week he is here and presenting a lecture on Bartok’s relationship with folk music in the Caine Room in the Family Life Building at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9.

“Bartok truly reinvented the string quartet for the twentieth century,” Waters said. “He introduced new, previously inconceivable techniques and sounds to the string quartet toolbox and these innovations heavily influenced quartet writing for the rest of that century.”

Waters said Bartok created a wholly new musical language of harmony and rhythm, drawn partially from his obsession with a great variety of folk music. He was then able to integrate the folk elements into a highly developed new approach to structure in music, yielding what Waters calls “spellbinding” results!

“Bartok is a giant of 20th century music, who set out to do no less than to revolutionize music, and you can experience the entire course of this revolution through these six works,” Ottesen said. “These works contain the vision and integrity to continue to be deeply meaningful to us still today.”

In addition to the FSQ’s performances, the students of the USU string program will perform Bartok’s 44 string duos in the lobby at 7 p.m. each night before the concert.

The performances are Nov. 6 (No. 1 and No. 6), Nov. 7 (No. 2 and No. 4) and Nov. 8 (No. 3 and No. 5) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 seniors and USU faculty/staff and free for USU students with ID and grades 3-12. If you purchase tickets for the complete cycle, you will receive a 20 percent discount. The concerts will be available to stream on aggiecast.usu.edu. For more information and tickets, contact the CCA Box Office in room L101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-8022, or go online to cca.usu.edu.

Kraemer is principal guest conductor of Music of the Baroque, Chicago. He previously held positions such as artistic director of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, London Bach Orchestra and Bath Festival music program. He was the first music director of Opera 80, now the English Touring Opera. Appearing worldwide with many prestigious ensembles, Kraemer has conducted the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic and more. He has contributed to several feature films, most notably as Baroque music director for The Madness of King George.

“Nicholas has conducted and performed all around the globe and it’s an incredible privilege for our students to work with him so intensively for the weeks he is in residence here,” Anne Francis Bayless, associate professor in the Caine College of the Arts and cellist in the Fry Street Quartet, said. “While he has conducted ensembles from the Berlin Philharmonic to the Chicago Symphony, he also really enjoys working with young people, which is why we knew he would be delighted at our invitation. For students, working with a conductor of this caliber is a once in a lifetime experience. While Nicholas is very demanding, he is also kind and supportive and has a great sense of humor.”

Francis said this concert’s program brings together students and faculty who would not ordinarily get many chances to collaborate.

“It’s really fun for our string students to get to perform with the fabulous USU Chamber Singers, not to mention Errik Hood as soloist,” Francis Bayless said. “The FSQ and Braun Khan will also step onstage with the chamber orchestra for the final work on the program, Bartok’s Divertimento.”

The audience members who are followers of the FSQ will hear a clear tie to the Bartok Cycle the quartet is preparing to present in November.

The concert features music from Handel, Bach, Dvořák and Bartók.

“Everyone is excited to perform in our newly renovated Daines Concert Hall,” Francis Bayless said. “It sounds absolutely fantastic!”

Tickets for the concert are $10 adults, $8 seniors/youth, $5 USU faculty/staff and free for USU students with ID. For more information and tickets, contact the CCA Box Office in room L101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-8022, or go online to cca.usu.edu.

LOGAN — The Fry Street Quartet, Utah State University’s string quartet in residence, will perform with three guest artists Tuesday, Nov. 15. Joining the quartet are Brant Bayless, Jason Hardink and Kathryn Eberle. Concert time is at 7:30 p.m. in the Caine Performance Hall on USU’s Logan campus.

Utah Symphony principal violist Brant Bayless came to Utah after completing his studies in New York City. Since joining the Utah Symphony in 2001, Bayless has immersed himself in the vibrant musical community of Salt Lake City. From his regular performances on the NOVA and Intermezzo chamber music series to a teaching post at Westminster College, he remains committed to his art even when he isn’t on stage at Abravanel Hall.

Violinist Kathryn Eberle is the associate concertmaster of the Utah Symphony. She was previously a violinist with the St. Louis Symphony and served as guest concertmaster with the Richard and Omaha Symphonies. She served extensively as concertmaster of the Juilliard Orchestra, including the ensemble’s tour of China. Eberle most recently performed all of the Beethoven Violin Sonatas with pianist Jason Hardink on the NOVA Chamber Music Series in Salt Lake City.

Jason Hardink, principal symphony keyboard in the Utah Symphony and artistic director of the NOVA Chamber Music Series, performs a wide-ranging repertoire of music by living composers and works of the historical canon. His leadership of the NOVA Chamber Music Series has created a dynamic environment through which audience and performers experience music both new and old.

“Fry Street and Friends” is presented by the Caine College of the Arts at USU.

Tickets for the Nov. 15 concert are $10 adults, $8 seniors/youth, $5 USU faculty/staff and free for USU students with ID. For more information and tickets, contact the CCA Box Office in room L101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-8022, or see the college’s website (cca.usu.edu).