Venuti String Quartet to play show in Caledon East with Chamber series

Quartet features musicians who have played with major orchestras

By Zachary Roman

A string quartet playing a show this month in Caledon East is very glad to be back together and performing since COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.

The Venuti String Quartet is coming to the St. James Anglican Church concert room for a performance at 7:30 p.m. on April 23. The Church is located at 6025 Old Church Road.

The quartet is coming to town thanks to Caledon Chamber Concerts, a non-profit corporation with the goal of bringing classical music to the community of Caledon.

The Venuti String Quartet's program will include music by Edvard Grieg, Drew Jurecka, and Ukrainian composer Boris Lyatoshinsky.

Jurecka is a violinist and member of the Quartet; some of his original compositions will be played. The other three members of Venuti are violinist Rebekah Wolkstein, violist Shannon Knights, and cellist Lydia Munchinsky.

Wolkstein spoke to the Citizen about her quartet's upcoming show in an April 4 interview. She explained the quartet played a show in Caledon in 2019 and, at that time, Caledon Chamber Concerts asked them to come back in 2022.

It seemed far away, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the quartet hasn't been able to play many live shows since.

In fact, the April 23 show will be the Venuti String Quartet's first post-COVID show as a quartet and they're incredibly excited for it.

Wolkstein said it's been a bucket-list item for the group to perform Grieg's String Quartet and they'll be doing it for the first time in Caledon East.

“It's kind of like a gut-wrenching beginning; it's fun, something to dig your teeth into,” said Wolkstein. “Very romantic, lots of emotion and expressive opportunities.”

It will also be the first time the quartet has performed Jurecka's new string quartet, which he completed during the pandemic.

Wolkstein said Jurecka is also well-known as a Jazz violinist and his original composition will have something for everyone. It features elements of jazz and tango, slow and fast parts, complex rhythms, and more.

The Venuti String Quartet's performance of Ukrainian composer Boris Lyatoshinsky's work is a tribute to the Ukrainian people, in light of Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

According to their website, the members of the Venuti String Quartet often perform with major orchestral ensembles such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet of Canada and Tafelmusik. The site goes on to say the group is known for its work with artists and ensembles such as Quartetto Gelato, Payadora Tango Ensemble, Jill Barber, Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company, The Hogtown Syncopators, The Gryphon Trio and The Art of Time Ensemble. 

Tickets to see the Venuti String Quartet are $35 for adults and $15 for youth ages 16 and under.

They can be purchased by sending an email to gordonkmorton@gmail.com and e-transfers can be sent to the same email address. However, tickets are also available at the door on the day of the concert and can be purchased via cash or cheque. 

“We like to play concerts with lots of variety, and to make the string quartet something that is new, but also to play some of the great music that I think everybody should hear,” said Wolkstein.

For more information about the quartet, visit VenutiStringQuartet.com.