Dover Quartet in Latin America
The Dover Quartet, Penelope P. Watkins Ensemble in Residence at the Curtis Institute of Music and winner of the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition, embarked on a virtual tour for audiences in Latin America from October 24–30, 2020. This tour, offered online due to the coronavirus pandemic, featured virtual performances in Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, and Chile.
Performances included an exciting mix of repertoire, from Haydn’s iconic Quartet in D minor, Op. 76, No. 2 to Ligeti’s heart-pounding Quartet No. 1, “Metamorphoses nocturnes,” to Beethoven’s third string quartet, Op. 18, No. 2. Audiences enjoyed one of the world’s foremost string quartets from the comfort of their homes!
Education
Violinist Bryan Lee led a masterclass for young string players at Universidad Panamericana in Mexico. His virtual teaching is one example of the many educational opportunities for Curtis on Tour artists and presenters.
Additional ongoing educational partnerships connect Curtis on Tour with Costa Rica’s Centro Cultural Costarricense-Norteamericano and Mexico’s Festival de Música de Cámara de San Miguel de Allende, both of which presented the Dover Quartet during the virtual tour.
As part of a commitment to technological growth and innovative collaborations, Curtis on Tour is also partnering with Chile’s Teatro Municipal de Santiago to offer young musicians online private instruction through the Curtis Alumni Mentor Network. “This is a special moment, because it ushers in a fruitful relationship between the Municipal of Santiago and the Curtis Institute, which will benefit young Chilean musicians,” says Carmen Gloria Larenas, general director of the Municipal Theater of Santiago.