Recital 3: Atlantic String Quartet

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR On behalf of the City of St. John’s, I am pleased to extend warm greetings to the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra as you launch your 2025/2026 season, Obsessed, Onstage, Onfire.

This year’s theme reflects the passion, dedication, and energy the NSO brings to our community year after year.

Through inspiring performances, meaningful education prog rammes, and steadfast community engagement, the NSO cont inues to ignite a love of music that enriches the cultural fabric of our city.

My sincere thanks go to the musicians, staff, volun teers, patrons, and sponsors who make each season possible. Your commitment ensures that the symphony not only thrives, but also continues to inspire audiences of all ages.

On behalf of Council, I congratulate the NSO on another exciting season and wish you every success as you share your extraordin ary talent with our community.

Warm regards,

Danny Breen Mayor of St. John’s

Message fro

m the Lieute

nant Govern or

As Honorary Patron of the Newfo undland Symphony Orchestra, it is my great pleasure to extend greetings and very best wishes for the 2025-2026 season.

The NSO is a wonderful orc hestra, which has served to cultivate and profile many of the exceptional artists we have in our province. The gift of the NS O’s rich orchestral music has become an integral part of the cul tural fabric of Newfoundland and Labrador. Again this year, a variety of performances are planned, sure to delight audiences and inspire us all.

This season is the first under the artistic leadership of Music Director Simon Rivard. Congratu lations on your new role, and welcome!

I hope you will enjoy the perfor mances the NSO has in store this year.

To everyone involved: the musici ans, staff, crew, and all who hav e a hand in producing this season, I thank you and wish you the best.

Joan Marie J. Aylward, O.N.L

dor

Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labra

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We acknowledge the province of Newfoundland and Labrador as the traditional territory of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the distinct histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province. We strive for respectful relationships with all the peoples of this province as we search for collective healing and true reconciliation and honour this beautiful land together.

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ATLANTIC STRING QUARTET Sunday, April 26th, 2026 • D.F. Cook Recital Hall Presented by IdeaFactory

Heather Kao, violin Nancy Case-Oates, violin Kate Read, viola Nathan Cook, cello

P ROGRAMME

Ernest Macmillan

Two Sketches Based on French Canadian Airs

6 min.

I. Notre Seigneur en Pauvre

II. A Saint Malo

Darius Milhaud

String Quartet no. 12, op. 252

14 min.

à la mémoire de Gabriel Fauré I. Modéré - Animé - Modéré II. Lent III. Avec entrain

Hawa Diabaté

Tegere Tulon (2018) *

11 min.

(arr. J. Garchik) III. Kalime IV. Wawani V. Janety *This piece was commissioned for Kronos Fifty for the Future, a project of the Kronos Performing Arts Association.

INTERMISSION Camille Saint-Saëns String Quartet no. 1 in e minor, op. 112

30 min.

I. Allegro

II. Molto allegro quasi presto III. Molto adagio

IV. Allegro non troppo

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G N I R T S C I ATLANT RTET A U Q

Formed in 1985, the Atlantic String Quartet (ASQ) is a versatile and professional chamber ensemble comprised of the principal string players of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra (NSO): Heather Kao, first violin; Nancy Case-Oates, second violin; Kate Read, viola; and Nathan Cook, Cello. In addition to their work with the full orchestra and NSO Sinfonia, the quartet produces its own Recital Series each season, presenting a broad selection of works from the rich quartet and small ensemble repertoires. The ASQ is an integral part of the creative life of its community and is known for its versatility and ability to work with music and musicians from all styles and genres. Having shared the stage with such international classical musicians as Anton Kuerti, André Laplante, and Martin Beaver, and local artists such as jazz artist Duane Andrews and renowned songwriter Ron Hynes, the members of the quartet also teach privately, and coach and conduct other ensembles. In 2014, the ASQ was offered a placement at the prestigious St. Lawrence String Quartet Music Seminar in Stanford, CA. In 2020 the quartet released its first self-titled debut album featuring works by Arthur Bliss and Maurice Ravel.

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A STANDING

OVATION

FOR OUR SUPPORTERS

NSO Staff Simon Rivard, Music Director Martin MacDonald, Principal Pops Conductor Hugh Donnan, CEO Lynn Ann Pye, Patron Relations Jennifer Brennan, Education & Outreach Coordinator Susan Kelsey, Marketing & Event Manager Dominic Greene, Personnel Manager Steve Power, Production Manager/Video Production/Editing Jenny Griffioen, Librarian Kyle McDavid, Graphic Designer

NSO Board Jessica Chapman (Chair) Michelle Davis (Vice-Chair) Tom Hickey (Past Chair) Douglas Wright (Treasurer) Robert Thompson (Corporate Secretary) Philip Harrington Eleanor Swanson Heather McKinnon Andrea Rose Duncan Fitzpatrick Glenn Colton

Alana Walsh-Giovannini Aimee Letto Robert Decker Jennifer Massey Jing Xia Karen Bulmer Chris Williams Amanda Hann Charlie Byrne Andrii Shyshkin Beth Porter

P.O. Box 23125 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J9 709-722-4441 nso@nsomusic.ca

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