AchiQuartet 2008
hosts the Fine Arts Quartet and five young Italian and European formations in Cremona (29 September to 3 October)

This year, Cremona has created a specialreward for twenty young musicians who havedecided to concentrate all of their effortson what is rightly considered the outstandingmusical formation, the quartet. As Cremonawas the cradle of violin making, the quartetin question is a stringed instruments ensemble.Continuing its long-standing focus o n thisspecial universe of ensemble music and o nthose committing to it, the StradivariusFoundation (formerly the Ente Triennale)has launched ArchiQuartet, a new initiativethat follows the eight editions of the InternationalContest organized in collaboration with theRotary Clubs of Cremona. ArchiQuartet isa masterclass, including three concerts,in which maestros and students spend a weektogether amid the violins of Guarneri delGesù and Stradivarius, but also modern o nesmade with great passion and craftsmanshipby violin makers continuing the traditionof the city.
The teachers are members of the Fine ArtsQuartet, which boasts more than 50 yearsof history. Established in the United States,the Quartet has travelled in many parts ofthe globe. o n September 27, it will inauguratethe project with a concert at the PonchielliTheatre o n the occasion of the opening ofthe exhibition “Cremona 1730-1750, in theOlympian era of Violin Making”. The fiveyoung quartets, three Italian and two foreign,will then work together with the US maestrosin the magnificent setting of the 15th centuryPalazzo Fodri. Exceptionally, o n October2, some of the instruments o n display inthe exhibition will be played by the FineArts Quartet in the San Domenico Hall atthe Civic Museum, surrounded by the greatmasterpieces of 16th century painters.
The week will conclude with three days dedicatedto Cremona Mondomusica, an event of worldwiderenown displaying hand-made musical instruments.Maestros and students will alternate o n thestage of the Great Hall o n Friday, October3, to perform before an international audiencecrowding the city in those busy exhibitiondays. o n the same date, the young quartetswill perform at an evening concert in theAuditorium of the Chamber of Commerce, concludingthe week dedicated to violin making and stringedinstruments. Everybody is invited and I personallyhope that it will be possible to extend thisopportunity to many other young musicians,giving them a chance to grow together.


Virginia Villa


Saturday Sept. 27th
9 pm – Ponchielli Theatre
Opening Concert:
"Cremona 1730-1750 in the Olympian eraof violin making"
Fine Arts Quartet, USA
In co-operation with: Ponchielli TheatreFoundation

Sept. 29th – Oct 2nd
Palazzo Fodri
Masterclass for stringed quartet
Teachers: Fine Arts Quartet
Five young quartets will take part: QuartettoIndaco (Fiesole), Quartet of the "G.Verdi" Conservatory (Milan), Quartetof the "C. Monteverdi" MusicalInstitute (Cremona), Collegium Quartet (Ukraine),Galatea Quartet (Switzerland, Japan)

Thursday Oct. 2nd
6.30 pm - San Domenico Room, "Ala Ponzone"Civic Museum
Audition with original instruments o n display
with Fine Arts Quartet

Friday Oct. 3rd
3 pm - Stradivarius Room, CremonaFiere
Quartet Afternoon
Fine Arts Quartet will present the youngquartets that attended the masterclass.
Preview of the evening concert
9 pm – Chamber of Commerce Auditorium - concertwith young quartets

ArchiQuartet 2008

has been created in co-operation with:
Chamber of Commerce – Cremona
Municipal Council of Cremona
CremonaFiere
Ponchielli Theatre Foundation – Cremona
Premio Borciani – Reggio Emilia