The Pro Arte Quartet (PAQ) has several events planned in order to allow student, alumni and the Madison community to bask in the glory of this world-renowned quartet.
The PAQ was founded in 1911. They are the first actively performing quartet to reach the centennial mark with violinist Alphonse Onnou as the original leader. Along with three other students of the Brussels Conservatory, the newly formed PAQ made their debut in Brussels, Belgium. Their reputation blossomed in 1919 as they began touring. They drew the attention of major composers such as Bartok, Honegger and Milhaud who provided the quartet with pieces to produce.
The PAQ took the United States by storm when they performed at the inauguration of the Hall of Music at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. The group eventually returned for a total of 30 American tours. They made their debut in Madison in 1938 when the group found themselves stranded after Hitler's invasion of Belgium and the outbreak of World War II made the PAQ unable to return home. The UW-Madison chancellor at the time, Clarence A. Dykstra, offered the Pro Arte Quartet a permanent home within the university.
The permanent residency of the quartet was the first of its kind ever seen at a major American University, and it served as the model for many similar arrangements to follow at other institutions. The original founder, Onnou, died in 1940 but PAQ as the quartet in residence until 1947. It became the faculty quartet in the 1950s and has remained as that since.
Today's quartet is made up of David Perry and Suzanne Biea on violin, Sally Chisholm on viola and Parry Karp on violoncello. They have been playing together for the past sixteen seasons and Karp had been part of PAQ for a record 35 seasons.
To commemorate this remarkable milestone, the Pro Arte Quartet has prepared a series of four American Premieres. These Premieres are spread out over this year and are comprised of works by major composers. Each premiere will be accompanied by a lecture from a prominent critic, a gala dinner and a pre-concert presentation, along with dessert served afterwards. Each of these events will premieres will be free to the public, except for dinners, which will be available at an extra cost.
The first American Premiere takes place this weekend, coinciding with the opening of the Chazen Art Museum. The PAQ is performing works composed by Walter Mays to kick off the centennial celebration on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. in Mills Hall. Mays is a world-renowned composer, whose first string quartet, in G Minor, which was commissioned by The Pro Arte Quartet was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1998. Mr. Mays will be on campus this week giving lectures in the School of Music, giving presentations to the public, helping coach the first performance, and being present for recording purposes. Additionally, the PAQ will be featuring work by Paul Schoenfield in November, William Bolcom in March and John Harbison in April.
The impact of the group on this university is outstanding. Since 1940, each of the quartet members has taught individual classes and given lectures in the UW-Madison School of Music. The members of the quartet make a conscious effort to pass their musical knowledge along to the next generation of music lovers, and possible future members of the quartet. Additionally, they provide an extra outlet for artistic familiarity on campus.
"We expose people to classical music, which is some of the greatest art ever made," Karp said. "Madison is such a vibrant community, and we bring additional cultural awareness."
What's the best part of being part of the quartet? According to Karp, "It has to be the amazing repertoire we work with. Our companions, our friends, and partners everyday are none other than the greatest composers such as Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Mozart." The passion that each member of the quartet has is felt through their vibrant performances and impassioned lectures. Anyone who sees them in action can feel the newly instilled appreciation for classical string music.
