Apr 01, 2019
Vienna, Austria’s acclaimed Janoska Ensemble, which has set out to revolutionize classical music in the same way that the Beatles turned pop music on its ear, will pay tribute to The Fab Four in a performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, at St. Bonaventure University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

The program, “From Vienna to Liverpool — A Tribute to the Beatles,” is the eighth presentation in the 2018-2019 Friends of Good Music performance season.

The unbridled musical creativity of the Janoska Ensemble gets free rein on the quartet’s latest CD, aptly titled “Revolution,” slated for release April 15 on Deutsche Grammophon, a label better known for keeping traditions than breaking them. 

But the Vienna-based ensemble has indeed broken the classical music mold. “Revolution” follows up on the ensemble’s gold-winning debut CD, “Janoska Style,” which served as the group’s declaration of independence from classical boundaries and an exuberant example of their improvisational, genre-hopping music. “Within the space of a few bars, their performances fluidly travel across musical landscapes, instantaneously traversing eras and classifications, from Bach to the Beatles,” declared the Knoxville Daily Sun.

“Revolution” includes arrangements of works by classical composers such as Mozart and Bach, as well as Janoska-style arrangements of some of the top hits by the Beatles. To coincide with the release, the Janoska Ensemble is on a 10-city U.S. tour performing a program based on the new CD. The tour includes stops in Texas, New York, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana and Wisconsin.

The sixth generation of a highly musical family, the ensemble came together in 2013, founded by brothers Ondrej (violinist), František (pianist) and Roman (violinist), and their brother-in-law Julius Darvas (double-bassist). Steeped in classical musical since childhood, the ensemble draws on instrumental traditions passed down in the family from father to son. 

Each is a virtuoso in his own right, having studied with Vienna’s most pre-eminent teachers and performed with such distinguished orchestras as the Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna Art Orchestra. While each has followed his own path to musical success, it’s when they play together that magic happens, and “Janoska Style” emerges. 

The ensemble has developed an utterly original and profoundly personal vision of music that explores a vast range of works, from the classical repertoire to original compositions and completely idiosyncratic arrangements informed by jazz, pop and world music. Their comprehensive training and breadth of knowledge come through in music that’s surprising and infused with humor, possessing an in-the-moment creativity that lets their individual talents shine.

“In classical music, improvisation has been lost, but it was part of the performances during the Baroque period,” said Darvas. “We’re bringing back that spontaneity and demonstrating that musicians can deviate from the written score and still remain true to the spirit of the composer.” 

This performance is partially funded by the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Grant Program supported by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and administered by the Tri-County Arts Council. 

Single ticket prices are $20 at full cost, $16 for senior citizens and SBU employees, and $5 for students. For tickets and information, call The Quick Center at (716) 375-2494.

For each Friends of Good Music performance, The Quick Center will open its galleries one hour before the performance and keep them open throughout the intermission. Regular gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Museum admission is free and open to the public year round.

For more information, visit www.sbu.edu/quickcenter. 

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