Boston's Jupiter String Quartet
Ensemble of Family Members Graduated from New England Conservatory
The Boston-based Jupiter String Quartet is an ensemble of family members with a name that reaches for the stars.
The New England Conservatory makes a lot of beautiful music that the public can often enjoy for free. The NEC also makes quartets. The up-and-coming Jupiter String Quartet (Meg Freivogel, Nelson Lee, Liz Freivogel, Daniel McDonough) is one of the products of Boston's vibrant classical music scene.
They've been playing together for seven years, but enrolled in the New England Conservatory's Professional String Quartet Training Program in 2004. Two years later, the entire group graduated with Master of Music degrees in Chamber Music. They still reside in Boston, but perform around the world.
Jupiter: A Rising Planet in the Musical Solar System?
The classical music world has been taking note of this ensemble that took its name from our solar system's biggest planet and the king of the Roman gods. "Jupiter" is quite a legacy to live up to, but the Jupiter String Quartet seems to be off to a good start.
In 2004, they won the prestigious Banff International String Quartet Competition in Alberta. That same year, they also won the Grand Prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. More recently, they took home the Cleveland Quartet Award by Chamber Music America. Winning the Netherland America Prize means the group will spend the spring of 2008 performing in the Netherlands.
All in the Family: A Quartet of Relatives
Sometimes working with family is a recipe for disaster, but in the case of the Jupiter String Quartet, close-knit family is what makes the ensemble work. Meg and Liz Freivogel are sisters and play the violin and viola, respectively. Meg's husband Daniel McDonough plays the cello. To round out the quartet, Nelson Lee also plays the violin.
The group strives to make their sound blend into a single rich tone while still preserving the individuality of each instrument. The result is conversation: from the pathos of a Haydn slow movement to the frenetic energy of a Bartok quartet, the instruments are constantly speaking to one another.
Repertoire
The group's latest recording, released in 2007, features Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 3 and Britten's String Quartet No. 2. Curious listeners can find a clip of their performance of Britten's string quartet in NPR's archive (see link under "Sources.") The Jupiter String Quartet website also offers a wonderful introduction to this group's energetic and passionate playing.
Sources
Knisely, Richard. "The Jupiter String Quartet: Orbiting Perfection." NPR Music.
"The Jupiter String Quartet: Biography." Jupiter String Quartet website.
