JP CONCERTS presents QUATUOR ZAIDE, award-winning French string quartet, playing Serenade Italienne in G major by Hugo Wolf (1860-1903); Opus 50/1 in B flat major by Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809); and, with special guest pianist Yannick Rafalimanana, the Piano Quintet in F minor by Cesar Franck (1822-1890). Tickets are $10 at the door.

Quatuor Zaide (string quartet) was founded in 2009, by Charlotte Juillard and Pauline Fritsch, violins; Sarah Chenaf, viola; and Juliette Salmona, cello.  QZ has received many invitations to perform, and has presented recitals at London’s Wigmore Hall, Cite de la Musique in Paris, Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, and many other venues in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria and Greece.  Upcoming concerts are scheduled at the Berlin Philharmonie, the Muskiverein in Vienna, and three venues in Boston.  Since its founding QZ has collaborated with many distinguished artists, including Julian Steckel and Jerome Pernoo (cellists), Alexandre Tharaud, Bertrand Chamayou, Jonas Vitaud, Edna Stern (pianists), and members of the Diotima Quartet.  Its repertoire is wide and varied, from the classical repertoire to contemporary music, including works by Iannis Xenakis, Wolfgang Rihm, Jonathan Harvey and others.  In September 2011, the Quatuor Zaide won 1^st prize in the Beijing International Music Competition. Last year, only one year after its founding, QZ was unanimously awarded the International Press Prize at the Bordeaux String Quartet International Competition in France; 3^rd prize in the Banff International String Quartet Competition in Canada; and 1^st prize in the Charles Hennen International Competition in the Netherlands.   The principal sponsor of QZ is Mecenat Musical Societe Generale (MMSG).   Since January of 2011, Charlotte Juillard has played a violin made by Joseph Gagliano in 1796, loaned by MMSG.   Keep in touch with QZ by visiting its website:http://www.quatuorzaide.com/

Yannick Rafalimanana (pianist) has developed an international concert career, performing recitals and chamber concerts regularly throughout Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.  He has won numerous awards and prizes in several competitions, including the Bruxelles J-Musiciens Competition, the Brest Piano Competition, and the International Ravel Academy’s Rotary-Lions Competition.  As soloist, he has appeared on more than one occasion with the Orchestre CNR de Lille, Orchestre Impromptu, and the Ensemble Parisien.  Rafalimanana also performs frequently with the “Trio La Plata” (a group formed in 2006), with violinists Amy Flammer and Marie Charvet, and pianist Francois-Rene Duchable.  In addition, his experience as a collaborative pianist in orchestra has allowed him to perform under the batons of Peter Eotvos, Jean Deroyer, Thomoty Brock, Zolt Nagy.  Recent chamber festivals attended include the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival and Perlman Music Program.  Rafalimanana has collaborated with several well-known artists such as Yitzhak Perlman, Donald Weilerstein, Joseph Kalichstein, Paul Katz, Kim Kashkashian, Rodger Tapping, Gary Hoffman, and James Tocco.