Aizuri Quartet
Emma Frucht and Miho Saegusa (violins)
Brian Hong (viola) ∙ Caleb van der Swaagh (cello)
The Aizuri Quartet has established a unique position within today’s musical landscape, infusing its music-making with infectious energy, joy, and warmth. The ensemble cultivates curiosity in listeners and invites audiences into the concert experience through its innovative programming and the depth and fire of its performances. Their programs meld music and storytelling with a fresh thematic perspective, exploring the dialogues between beloved works of the string quartet canon and lesser known gems ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The Quartet's debut album, Blueprinting, was nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY Award, and named one of NPR Music’s Best Classical Albums of 2018. Aizuri’s follow-up album, Earthdrawn Skies, was released in 2023 and praised by NPR as an album that “convincingly connects the dots in wildly diverse music stretching over eight centuries…arousing solemn contemplation, cosmic curiosity, folksy delight and introspective scrutiny.”
Aizuri Quartet have commissioned, premiered and recorded works by today’s most in-demand chamber music composers including Caroline Shaw, Gabriella Smith, Lembit Beecher, and Paul Wiancko.
“In a word, stunning” —I Care If You Listen
∙ Cleveland Quartet Award 2022
∙ GRAMMY Award Nomination 2019 for Blueprinting
∙ Grand Prize at M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition
L'usignuolo by Barbara Strozzi
Arrangement by Alex Fortes
Filmed and recorded at Oktaven Audio
Audio Engineer: Ryan Streber
Videography: Xuan Films
Songs & Echoes of Home: A Mini Concert
Antonín Dvořák: Cypresses Mvts. I & XI
Lembit Beecher: These Memories May Be True
Jean Sibelius: String Quartet “Voces Intimae”
Komitas Vartabed: Armenian Folk Songs
Recorded live at the Berkeley Chamber Performances in Berkeley, CA on March 3, 2020.
Photo credits: Titilayo Ayangade and Jonathan Kim