Formed in San Francisco in 1996, the Cypress String Quartet has been praised by Gramophone magazine for its "artistry of uncommon insight and cohesion", while The Washington Post has written that their sound is "beautifully proportioned and powerful."
With a career that has spanned nearly twenty years, the ensemble has stayed busy performing all over the world, making numerous recordings, and creating a unique program entitled "Call & Response." This project combines education, outreach, and performance all while commissioning new works, encouraging and supporting living composers.
Currently, the quartet is finishing up the monumental feat of recording all of Beethoven's string quartets. They have already released his middle and late quartets (both on the Avie label). The quartet aims to have his early quartets recorded by their 20th anniversary.
The Oak Ridge Chamber Music Series has brought this talented group to the area to present a concert Saturday, March 21st at 7:30pm at Pollard Auditorium. The program includes two quartets by Beethoven-- one from his early period and one from his heroic middle period. Additionally, the Cypress String Quartet will present Bartok's groundbreaking String Quartet No.4.
A few days ago, Melony Dodson talked with the cellist of the group, Jennifer Kloetzel (rhymes with pretzel), as the quartet had just arrived in Cookeville for a mini-residency at TN Tech University.