Calder Quartet 2023

Hailed as “imaginative, skillful creators” by the New York Times, the Calder Quartet captivates audiences with its explorations of a broad repertoire, always striving to fulfill the composer’s vision in their performances. The group’s distinctive artistry is exemplified by the musical curiosity they bring to everything they perform. This concert will feature Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major, the only one he wrote, which owes a clear debt to Debussy, and Schubert’s String Quartet in G Major, his last and greatest quartet, with its lyrical ideas and major and minor modes.

The players …are particularly good at producing a beautifully rounded and unified sound, as well as showing a generous sense of musical camaraderie.”

- Los Angeles Times

2023 Featured Composer: Maurice Ravel

For 2023, Susan Waterfall’s composer series will feature the innovative and influential Maurice Ravel. Immerse yourself in his world and his music, and understand how his music evolved over his lifetime with narrated chamber recitals featuring exciting guest artists, and various other settings of Ravel’s work across the Festival.

Explore the Series

Waterfall’s productions always present exciting, absorbing playing of great music, but are also rare, distinctive examples of what can be called music education, though they’re more conversational, truly a sharing of perspective, interest, anecdote. There’s a sense of immediacy to her delivery, weaving in and out of the playing, an intimately conceived present awareness of this heritage. It’s something unique that needs to be experienced.” -Ken Bullock, Berkeley Daily Planet