Quartet of ‘unique prominence’ changes leader
mainEven by the hyperbolic flights of the classical music sector, the self-advertisement of the Ying Quartet sets a new nadir in irony immunity.
To quote their website: ‘The Ying Quartet occupies a position of unique prominence in the classical music world, combining brilliantly communicative performances with a fearlessly imaginative view of chamber music in today’s world.’
The Yings, originally four siblings from Winnetka, Illinois, are quartet in residence at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester.
Ayano Ninomiya, first violinist for the past five years has just left the lineup. She is replaced as leader by Robin Scott, a soloist with several US orchestras. Uniquely.
Unique indeed. The group’s original “hook” was the fact that they were all siblings. I guess the P.R. machine is working on overdrive to promote them as something else…
This is coming from someone who studied at Eastman, but what makes them unique is the ways they pioneered outreach for chamber music. When they were fresh out of school, the what-is-now the National Endowment for the Arts plopped them down in the middle of no where Iowa where they redefined for themselves and audiences what a concert experience is. They were playing more concerts than Tokyo SQ, but just not in the types of venues you might expect. I’ve heard other chamber groups admit they stole outreach ideas from them. I think they have played a major role in what expectations for a professional chamber ensemble are. Also, they did make that Grammy-winning recording with Turtle Island String Quartet. I don’t see other classical quartets doing stuff like that. Clearly I’m biased, but I do think they have unique merits.