Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, the Schubert Club and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Present

The Sphinx Virtuosi with Catalyst Quartet

St. Paul, Minn. (Sept. 28, 2016) — The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, the Schubert Club and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra are pleased to present The Sphinx Virtuosi with Catalyst Quartet on Sunday, Oct. 30 in the Ordway Concert Hall. Tickets for the special performance start at $22 and can be purchased online at ordway.org, by phone at 651-224-4222 or in person at the Ordway ticket office.

Since their debut at Carnegie Hall in 2004, the Sphinx Virtuosi, led by the Catalyst Quartet, has consistently been recognized as one of the nation's most dynamic professional chamber orchestras. Composed of 18 of the nation's top Black and Latino classical soloists, these alumni of the internationally renowned Sphinx Competition come together each fall as cultural ambassadors in order to reach new audiences through classical music.

Their 2016 program, Latin Voyages: Viajes Latinos, takes listeners on a journey from the tantalizing Argentine tango to the nocturnal imagery of Mexico, featuring a grand tribute to the great Piazzolla, with a final invitation to Catalan dance. Explore the palette of the string medium through works from celebrated composers of Latin heritage, and celebrate the intricate mosaic of sounds and colors that pay homage to a diverse musical culture.

Ordway President and CEO Jamie Grant said, “We are thrilled to be joining forces with the Schubert Club and the SPCO to bring this dynamic ensemble of musicians to Twin Cities audiences. They represent the future of classical music, and their energy and fresh perspective is sure to ignite our community of chamber music lovers.”

The four principals of the Sphinx Virtuosi make up the Catalyst Quartet, which has independently garnered acclaim in performances around the world. Hailed by The New York Times at their Carnegie Hall debut as “invariably energetic and finely burnished…playing with earthy vigor,” the Catalyst Quartet is composed of top Laureates and alumni of the internationally acclaimed Sphinx Competition with the 2015 winner of the Seoul International Music Competition. Known for “rhythmic energy, polyphonic clarity and tight ensemble-playing,” the quartet has toured domestically and abroad, including sold-out performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Chicago’s Harris Theater, Miami’s New World Center and Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall.

The Sphinx Virtuosi with Catalyst Quartet is co-presented by the Ordway, the Schubert Club and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. For tickets and information, visit ordway.org.

ABOUT THE ORDWAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

The Ordway is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading nonprofit performing arts centers and Saint Paul’s most elegant and inviting performance space. The Ordway’s Music Theater and Concert Hall attract diverse audiences with an array of productions showcasing the finest in American musical theater, world music, dance and vocal performance. Education and community engagement are integral to the Ordway’s mission, with major initiatives including the annual Flint Hills International Children’s Festival and Ordway Education programs that serve more than 50,000 students annually. Together with Minnesota Opera, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and The Schubert Club, the Ordway is a member of the Arts Partnership and serves as the principal venue for their performances. For more information, visit ordway.org.

ABOUT THE SCHUBERT CLUB

For 135 years, Schubert Club has invited the world’s finest recital soloists and ensembles to the Twin Cities and promoted the finest musical talents of our community through performances, education, and museum programs. It has secured a prominent and distinguished reputation among musical organizations nationwide, and is one of the first arts organizations in the country. The Schubert Club's International Artist Series has presented virtually all of the world’s great recitalists including Jascha Heifetz, Arthur Rubinstein, Cecilia Bartoli, Beverly Sills, Leontyne Price, Yo-Yo Ma and Renée Fleming to name a few. In 2014, Schubert Club introduced Schubert Club Mix, its convention-breaking performance series in nontraditional venues. Additional series include Music in the Park Series (chamber music concerts in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood), a free weekly lunchtime Courtroom Concerts series in downtown St. Paul, Accordo, and the Hill House Chamber Players. For more information visit schubert.org.

ABOUT THE SAINT PAUL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Renowned for its artistic excellence, remarkable versatility of musical styles and adventurous programming, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra is widely regarded as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world. Now in its 58th season, the SPCO has recently undergone transformational change with the opening of its new home, the Ordway Concert Hall, the addition of a new generation of players, and significant changes in the scope of its artistic vision. Committed to championing new music, the SPCO is primarily an unconducted ensemble that works in close collaboration with a diverse series of artistic partners. The virtuoso musicians of the SPCO present more than 130 concerts and educational programs each year, and are regularly heard on public radio programs which reach more than 2 million listeners each week on over 300 stations. Additionally, the SPCO reaches more than 200,000 listeners annually through its free online Listening Library. The SPCO is nationally recognized for its commitment to broad community accessibility, its innovative audience outreach efforts, and its educational and family programming. The SPCO offers the most affordable tickets of any major orchestra in the United States, with over 50 percent of tickets available for $12 or less, and has expanded accessibility even further by offering free tickets for children and students starting in the 2016.17 season as a part of the New Generation Initiative. For more information, visit thespco.org.