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AUSTRIAN NATIONAL DAY CONCERT

On the occasion of the Austrian National Day, the Austrian Embassy in Beirut is launching a cultural and educational chamber music program with Les Musicales de Baabdath, in collaboration with Stratos Piano Quartet and mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

The 1-year program, which kicks off in 2020 and continues through 2021, starts on October 21 with a chamber music concert performed by the members of Stratos Piano Quartet, live from Joseph Haydn Concert Hall at mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

The public opening performance, part of Les Musicales de Baabdath ‘STRINGS OF HOPE 2020’ initiative, will be broadcast on Les Musicales de Baabdath Facebook page on Wednesday October 21 at 9 pm Beirut Time (8 pm Vienna Time) and will be preceded by a word of greeting by H.E. Austrian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. René Paul Amry.

To watch the concert live, tune in to Les Musicales de Baabdath Facebook page.

If you do not have a Facebook account, you can still watch the concert live on this link:

STRINGS OF HOPE 2020

This opening concert comes at a time when Lebanon is going through a very painful period of its history. The tragic August 4 explosion in Beirut took the lives of hundreds of victims and left thousands of Lebanese citizens homeless. The economic crisis is hitting the country in addition to the pandemic; therefore, thanks to the Austrian Embassy in Beirut and to Les Musicales de Baabdath partners, the concert is proudly listed as part of the ‘STRINGS OF HOPE 2020’ initiative.

‘STRINGS OF HOPE 2020’ is an online chamber music concert series designed by Les Musicales de Baabdath to restore hope among Lebanese citizens by spreading positive vibes through music. It stems from the strong belief that culture, cultural exchange and music should continue to prevail no matter how challenging the circumstances turn to be.

If you believe in hope, we would like to invite you to contribute by donating online to the following organizations or any other trusted organization:

SOS Children’s Villages Lebanon
Red Cross for Lebanon
Hilfswerk International for Lebanon

OPENING CONCERT PROGRAM

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21
9 pm | Beirut Time

Live from Jospeh Haydn Hall
mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

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STRATOS PIANO QUARTET

KATHARINA ENGELBRECHT | Violin
MAGDALENA EBER | Viola
JAN RYSKA | Cello
MAXIMILIAN FLIEDER | Piano

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WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756 – 1791)
PIANO QUARTET IN G MINOR KV478
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Rondo. Allegro Moderato

GERNOT WOLFGANG (b. 1957)
FROM VIENNA WITH LOVE
For Piano Quartet

ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810 – 1856)
PIANO QUARTET IN E-FLAT MAJOR Op. 47

I. Sostenuto assai – Allegro ma non troppo
II. Scherzo. Molto vivace
III. Andante cantabile
IV. Finale. Vivace

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STRATOS PIANO QUARTET

The Stratos Quartet was founded in spring 2013 by four young musicians who became acquainted while attending the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. In September of the same year, the Stratos Quartet gave an impressive performance at the 20th International Johannes Brahms Competition in Pörtschach, Austria, for which they received the first prize for chamber music. The quartet, which was enthusiastically received by audience and jury alike, also won the special prize awarded by Neues Künstlerforum and a concert engagement at the Hofburg in Vienna.

Soon thereafter, in October of 2013, the quartet was honoured by being admitted to ECMA (the European Chamber Music Academy). This afforded the fledgling ensemble opportunities for future collaborations with renowned chamber musicians and professors such as Hatto Beyerle, Johannes Meissl, Alfred Brendel, Ralf Gothoni, Avedis Kouyoumdjian, Claus-Christian Schuster, Jerome Pernoo, and Michel Lethiec. And to top off a highly successful year, December 2013 saw the Stratos Quartet awarded the Josef Windisch Chamber Music Prize.

Since then, the Stratos Quartet has given concerts at venues including the Vienna Musikverein, Wigmore Hall in London, the Grande Auditorio of the Gulbenkian Centre in Lisbon, the Grafenegg Festival, the Dvorak Festival in Czech Republic, Casa da Musica in Porto, and the Turku Festival in Finland as well as in Japan, USA, Italy or France. Some of their concerts have been recorded for broadcast via radio (Ö1) and/or television (RTP).

The Stratos Quartet’s latest achievements include the first prize and the “Grand Prix” at the Beethoven International Chamber Music Competition in Polen, first prize at the Città di Pinerolo e Torino – Città metropolitana International Chamber Music Competition, the third prize at the M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition in Michigan, USA, and selection for the “New Austrian Sound of Music” programme of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration, and Foreign Affairs.

All four musicians have won multiple awards at national and international competitions and pursue extensive performing careers both as solo performers and as chamber and orchestral musicians. They enjoy pooling their individual experiences and approaches in order to create a homogeneous sound, as well as introducing an even larger audience to the piano quartet as something distinct from the prevalent string quartet and piano trio genres.

ONLINE LECTURES

On October 23, live from Vienna, the first of a series of online lectures around chamber music will be delivered to students of the Lebanese Higher National Conservatory of Music, by Professor Johannes Meissl Vice Rector of mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, and Artistic Director of the European Music Academy (ECMA).

The epidemiological situation permitting, the program will be closed in 2021 with the Stratos Quartet members visiting Lebanon for a joint concert with Lebanese chamber music students.

We extend our truest thanks to the Embassy of Austria in Lebanon for making this project happen,