Press
“Every now and then a CD comes along of such stunning quality that it almost leaves you speechless. Such is the case with Avant l’orage – French String Trios 1926–1939...featuring seven beautifully crafted works, mostly by composers who aren’t household names, in simply superb performances by the Chicago-based Black Oak Ensemble of violinist Desirée Ruhstrat, violist Aurélien Fort Pederzoli and cellist David Cunliffe.
All seven works are high quality and extremely attractive, and it’s hard to imagine their ever being played better – or with better recorded sound, for that matter. ”
“This a brilliant set, made all the greater in that it contains exclusively all-but-unknown music.
The Black Oak Ensemble—Desiree Ruhstrat, Aurelian Fort Pederzoli, and David Cunliffe—have outdone themselves here.”
“These attractive scores have happily found most sympathetic advocates in the Black Oak Ensemble, who play with supreme musicianship, enthusiasm and commitment. With production standards and excellent documentation flying high, this Cedille release can be recommended with the greatest possible enthusiasm”
“All aspects of technical execution, ranging from intonation to bowing to rhythm and tonal production, are spot on. Even more importantly, the players fully inhabit the spirit of whatever work they are playing at the moment, performing each one with as ardent a flame as if they had written it themselves. …Every chamber-music aficionado should be eager to add to his or her collection. Top recommendation. ”
“French string trio rarities persuasively reclaimed from neglect.
The French described the period as “les années folles” (the crazy years) and there is more than a hint of that delirium here even as ominous gathering clouds cast a thickening pall over these often charming and vivacious works. Their neglect in recent years is redeemed by the characterful championing of the Chicago-based Black Oak Ensemble.”
“This is difficult, challenging music that requires not only a comprehensive, deeply felt sense of style and prodigious technical facility, but an understanding of how to differentiate the expressive demands of a collection of pieces that are in some ways similar, but in more ways quite different, and how as an ensemble to make each stand out and stand in its own deserving space. Not only does the Black Oak Ensemble achieve this, but their effort makes you more than eager to hear the whole thing again. …Highly recommended.”
Black Oak Ensemble
Desirée Ruhstrat, Violin
Aurélien Fort Pederzoli, Viola
David Cunliffe, Cello
Praised for its “insightful, committed and masterful performances” (Classics Today 10/10) and “fierce eloquence” (London Times), the Black Oak Ensemble is one of the most innovative and exciting chamber ensembles on the international stage.
The ensemble has collaborated with renowned artists such as guitarists Mak Grgic, Goran Ivanovic, Denis Azabagic and José Ferreira, harpsichordist Jory Vinikour, members of Eighth Blackbird, and flutist Eugenia Molinar. As passionate advocates of new works, they have commissioned and premiered string trios from renowned composers such as Michael Nyman, David Ludwig, Mischa Zupko, and Conrad Tao and discovered works by Dick Kattenburg, Geza Fríd, Gustave Samazeuilh, Henri Tomasi and Robert Casadesus.
Recent international tours have taken the Black Oak Ensemble to Amsterdam, Geneva (a special performance dedicated to human rights), the Everlasting Hope Festival in Terezin, (in honor of composers persecuted and murdered by the Nazis during the occupation of Prague), Paris, Grenoble, Lyon, Rennes, Corsica, Prague, and Athens. In the summer of 2022, the ensemble collaborated with violinist Rachel Kolly and cellist Nadege Rochat for sold out performances at the Schubertiade in Fribourg, Switzerland. In the U.S. they have appeared at the Newport Music Festival, Music at the Morgan, Ravinia Festival, New York University, Chicago Cultural Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Latino Music Festival (Chicago), University of Oregon and many other venues.
The Black Oak Ensemble’s latest CD release, “Avant l’orage,” a double album of French string trios, reached #1 in the Billboard Classical Charts in July 2022 and was featured as Album of the week on Symphony Hall Sirius XM and in November nominated for a 2023 ICMA International Chamber Music Award. Since then it has been lauded in the U.S. and International press, including Canada, Finland, The Netherlands and Germany. Fanfare Magazine said, “the players fully inhabit the spirit of whatever work they are playing at themoment, performing each one with as ardent a flame as if they had written it themselves.” Black Oak’s debut album, "Silenced Voices" (Cedille Records), is dedicated to Jewish composers, most of whom lost their lives during the Holocaust. It has been featured in Gramophone and Strings magazines and on BBC Radio 3, The Violin Channel and Sirius XM.
As dedicated educators, their students and ensembles have been prize winners of national and international competitions and have held residencies at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, St. John’s School for the Arts (USVI) and Arizona State University. They are proud to collaborate with 'In Crescendo' based in Colombia, South America, Evanston Young Artists, Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative and the RAVINIA Festival's El Sistema program.
The Black Oak Ensemble consists of violinist Desirée Ruhstrat and cellist David Cunliffe, members of the GRAMMY-nominated Lincoln Trio, and violist Aurélien Fort Pederzoli, a founding member of the ground-breaking, GRAMMY-nominated Spektral Quartet.They are currently ensemble-in-residence at New Music School in Chicago.
Schedule
Upcoming Concerts:
Past Concerts: