Polish string quartet makes its Ottawa debut with celebrated Quebec pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin

Apollon Musagète Quartet, a fixture of Europe’s classical scene, to play Dvořák masterwork with the Juno-nominated pianist  At the forefront of Europe’s chamber music scene, Apollon Musagète Quartet will perform in Canada’s capital for the first time Feb. 3, featuring works by Joseph Haydn, Krzysztof Penderecki and Antonín Dvořák. Charles Richard-Hamelin, a silver-medalist in the International Chopin Piano Competition, will join the quartet at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre. Richard-Hamelin and the quartet notably collaborated at Warsaw’s Fryderyk Chopin Institute in 2016. They reunite in Ottawa to perform Dvořák’s Piano Quintet in A major, widely considered to be the Czech composer’s masterwork. Apollon Musagète Quartet was named a BBC New Generation Artist in 2012, which has led to extensive touring and recording in the U.K., as well as a very active presence in Europe. This same honour has launched the careers of young classical musicians including violinist Esther Yoo and the Danish String Quartet. Charles Richard-Hamelin with Apollon Musagète Quartet is part of the 2019-20 Chamberfest Concert Series. Tickets are available online at chamberfest.com, by phone at 613-234-6306, or in person at 4 Florence St., Suite 201. When:  Mon. Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m. Where: Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre 355 Cooper St. (O’Connor and Lisgar) What: Haydn: String Quartet No. 53 in D major (“The Lark”), Hob III:63, Op. 64, No. 5 Penderecki: String Quartet No. 3 “Leaves from an unwritten diary” Dvořák: Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, Op. 81 Who: Charles Richard-Hamelin, piano Apollon Musagète Quartet Pawel Zalejski, violin Bartosz Zachlod, violin Piotr Szumiel, viola Piotr Skweres, cello Ottawa Chamberfest Ottawa Chamberfest brings together the boldest names in ensemble and solo performance for musical celebration in the nation’s capital, through its concert series, community engagement and education (CEE), and its summer festival. The world’s largest festival of its kind, Ottawa Chamberfest is a 2019 Festivals and Events (FEO) Ontario “Top 100” and winner of seven consecutive Lieutenant-Governor’s Awards for the Arts.