UMD Music: Events

“A Concert in Wine Country” with music by a variety of composers including Ravel, Brahms, Rossini, Piazolla and Weber.

For over a decade, this dazzling ensemble has enchanted audiences and critics worldwide with their exotic blend of musical virtuosity, artistic passion and charismatic presence. Quartetto Gelato established themselves as dominant forces on the emerging "new classical" scene early in their career by winning the coveted title of NPR Performance Today's Debut Artist of the Year in 1996. Today, Quartetto Gelato continues its reign as an international sensation with repeat sold-out performances throughout the globe.

Classical in intent, eclectic by design, Quartetto Gelato not only thrills its audiences with the mastery of six instruments, but offers the wonderfully unexpected bonus of a brilliant operatic tenor. With a performance repertoire that travels imaginatively between classical masterworks, operatic arias and the sizzling energy of tangos, gypsy and folk songs, the group's relaxed stage presence and delightful humor establishes an immediate rapport with traditional and non-traditional classical audiences alike. Performed without scores, their shows radiate a sense of spontaneity and excitement rarely seen on the classical stage.

Quartetto Gelato has also graced the tracks of the Hollywood film industry. The group was featured on the soundtrack recording of the major motion picture Only You, starring Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr., on the Sony label. In 2005, the quartet was featured on the soundtrack of the Canadian independent film release, Looking for Angelina. Classical radio listeners across the continent know Quartetto Gelato by their instantly recognizable sound, which is broadcast frequently on the CBC, PRI and NPR networks. In particular, the band has been featured regularly on NPR's popular Performance Today program, which recognized Quartetto Gelato in 1996 by presenting them with their award for "Debut Artist of the Year." The panel of music critics who made that selection characterized the quartet as “an amazing ensemble that achieves the nearly impossible: they play salon music with real style and classical music with real precision; Great chops and a commitment in all that they play.”

Weber Music Hall
7:30 p.m. - $30/$25/$15
All seats reserved. Advance purchase recommended.