Chantily Quintet in the Dominican Republic

Chantily Quintet in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 5/01/2011

The German Embassy in cooperation with the Dominican Ministry of Culture and the Goethe Institute of Mexico City are once again combining their efforts for the cultural and artistic development of Dominican youth by sponsoring the visit of the Chantily Quintet in Santo Domingo from May 8-12, as part of the International Book Fair.

Members of the woodwinds quintet, who originate from Germany, Russia, Hungary and Finland, are also part of important orchestras such as the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Concert House Orchestra of Berlin (Konzerthaus).

Members of the woodwinds quintet, who originate from Germany, Russia, Hungary and Finland, are also part of important orchestras such as the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Concert House Orchestra of Berlin (Konzerthaus).

At the ARD International music competition in Munich in 2006 the Chantily Quintet was awarded several consecutive prizes: second place for the Audience Prize supported by the Theodor Rogler Foundation and a prize financed by the Alice Rosner Foundation for the best interpretation of a commissioned work.

Since then the ensemble, Johannes Zurl (clarinet), Bence Bogányi (bassoon), Dmitri Babanov (horn), Florian Grube (oboe) and Ulrich Biersack (filling in on the flute for Pirmin Grehl), has rapdily risen to a leading position on the chamber music scene. In Berlin, the group has given concerts to great acclaim and euphoria with the Konzerthaus Orchestra in Berlin as well as the Philharmonic. In addition, they have been invited by the Goethe Institute to go on various tours around Central Africa, the Czech Republic and Greece.

During their tour to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic, which runs from April 25th to May 12th, 2011, the five Chantily musicians will not only give concerts but will actively participate in the training of a new generation of musicians.

In Santo Domingo, they will give Master Classes to members of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, directed by Darwin Aquino. The classes will be held in the School of Fine Arts on Monday May 9th and on Wednesday May 11th.  In their capacity as a woodwinds quintet, Chantily will focus on these instruments which, in a large orchestra, tend to get a little overshadowed.

During this important visit to the DR, the quintet’s concert will include music by Mozart, Reicha, Hindemith, Francaix and Beethoven. The concert will be held in the Carlos Piantini Hall of the Santo Domingo National Theater.  Concert time is Tuesday May 10 at 7:30 pm and is free of charge and open to the public.