PRESCOTT, AZ – January 19, 2025 – January 19, 2025—Experience a captivating performance of Arizona Philharmonic’s eight finest string musicians, each on a four-stringed instrument—violins, violas and cellos—in the dynamic program, Eight by Four, Sunday, February 2, 3:00 pm, at the Ruth Street Theater in Prescott. Tickets start at $25 (no ticketing fee), and are available here, or by calling 855-321-6724. A pre-concert talk is included and begins at 2:00pm. “String instruments are the perfect balance of unity and diversity, creating an entrancing blend of sounds, musical selection and artistry. This concert is a powerhouse performance by top-notch Arizona Philharmonic string musicians,” stated Abby Coffey, AZ Phil Executive Director.

The performance features Mendelssohn’s String Octet in E-flat major, celebrated for its youthful exuberance and complex harmonies, Spanish composer Javier Martínez Campos’ octet, Serenata para Cuerdas, renowned for its rhythmic vitality and lyrical beauty, and Grażyna Bacewicz’s Quartet for 4 Violins, a unique blend of Polish folk and neoclassicism, offering both emotional depth and intricate structure, alongside Wilhelm Friedemann Bach’s Viola Duet F 61 in G Major and José L. Elizondo’s Danzas Latinoamericanas, both showcasing exquisite charm and stylistic diversity. “This program is a dream for anyone who loves the sheer beauty of strings. It showcases the extraordinary range of what string instruments can express,” added Henry Flurry, AZ Phil Artistic Director.

“Mendelssohn’s Octet is widely regarded as one of the greatest chamber music works ever written, which makes the fact that he was 16 when he wrote it all the more impressive. Scored for a double string quartet, Mendelssohn wrote “the Octet must be played by all the instruments in symphonic orchestral style” and the listener hears this immediately in both the scope and dimension of the work, demanding virtuosity from all eight players. Despite being composed so early in his life, Mendelssohn declared it his favorite composition in his later years, filled with trademark youthful exuberance, sentimentality, playfulness, and technical fireworks it is easy to understand why it was not only Mendelssohn’s favorite work but one of the most beloved works of music ever composed,” commented Dr. Katherine McLin, AZ Phil’s principal violinist and Concertmaster.

Community Lecture Series 2/01, 11:00 am
On Saturday, February 1, at 11:00 am, AZ Phil’s ongoing Community Lecture Series will present The Violin as a Passport: How One Instrument Plays Music from Around the World. Is it a violin or a fiddle? Not only does it depend on if you’re playing classical, folk or popular music, but also if you are playing music from Ireland, Iran or the American Southwest. Explore this iconic string instrument with Arizona Philharmonic violinist Dr. Michael DiBarry, and learn why the violin is profoundly versatile in countless musical traditions around the world. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children and are available at AZPhil.org.
** Please note ** the Community Lecture Series is a separate event from Sunday’s pre-concert talk and will feature distinct content.

About Arizona Philharmonic

Founded in 2018, Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) is Prescott’s only professional orchestra focused on classical music, presenting large and small concerts that engage and inspire listeners. In its seventh season in 2024-25, AZ Phil draws musicians from across Arizona and is committed to offering transformative music, while nurturing community participation and supporting the needs and growth of the Prescott area performing arts scene. Recognized in 2021 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in Arts and Culture, Arizona Philharmonic is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Ticket information, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at AZPhil.org or on Facebook.