Role

:

Ensemble

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Mobius is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2010 by a group of young musicians who shared a passion for chamber music. The ensemble is based in Boston, Massachusetts, and is known for its innovative programming and dynamic performances. The founding members of Mobius were pianist Kirsten Volness, violinist Sarah Darling, cellist Benjamin Schwartz, and clarinetist Amy Advocat. All four musicians had studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and had performed together in various chamber music groups before coming together to form Mobius. From the beginning, Mobius set out to explore new and unconventional ways of presenting classical music. The ensemble's name, which refers to the mathematical concept of a Möbius strip, reflects this commitment to innovation and experimentation. The Möbius strip is a surface with only one side and one edge, and Mobius sought to create performances that were similarly seamless and continuous. One of the ensemble's early highlights was its performance at the 2011 Boston Early Music Festival Fringe Concert Series. Mobius presented a program of music by Johann Sebastian Bach, including his Goldberg Variations, which the ensemble arranged for piano, violin, cello, and clarinet. The performance was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and helped to establish Mobius as a rising star in the Boston classical music scene. In the years that followed, Mobius continued to push the boundaries of classical music performance. The ensemble collaborated with a wide range of artists, including dancers, visual artists, and poets, to create multimedia performances that combined music with other art forms. Mobius also commissioned new works from contemporary composers, including Kirsten Volness, who is also a composer in addition to being a pianist. One of Mobius's most ambitious projects was its 2015 performance of Olivier Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time. The piece, which was composed in a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, is a meditation on the apocalypse and the power of faith. Mobius's performance of the Quartet was accompanied by a visual installation created by artist Anna Schuleit Haber, which featured thousands of paper birds suspended from the ceiling of the performance space. The performance was a powerful and moving tribute to Messiaen's music and the resilience of the human spirit. In addition to its innovative programming, Mobius has also been recognized for its technical excellence and musicianship. The ensemble has won numerous awards and accolades, including the 2013 American Prize in Chamber Music Performance and the 2014 Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming. Today, Mobius continues to be a leading force in the Boston classical music scene and beyond. The ensemble's commitment to innovation and experimentation has inspired a new generation of musicians and audiences, and its performances continue to challenge and delight listeners.

More....