Quartetto Gelato

Cynthia Steljes - oboe, English horn
Peter DeSotto - tenor, violin, mandolin
Alexander Sevastian – accordion, piano, bandoneon
Elinor Frey – cello

For over a decade, this dazzling ensemble has enchanted audiences and critics worldwide with their exotic blend of musical virtuosity, artistic passion and charismatic presence. Quartetto Gelato established themselves as dominant forces on the emerging “new classical” scene early in their career by winning the coveted title of NPR Performance Today’s Debut Artist of the Year in 1996. Today, Quartetto Gelato continues its reign as an international sensation with repeat sold-out performances throughout the globe.

Classical in intent, eclectic by design, Quartetto Gelato not only thrills its audiences with the mastery of eight instruments, but offers the wonderfully unexpected bonus of a brilliant operatic tenor. With a performance repertoire that travels imaginatively between classical masterworks, operatic arias and the sizzling energy of tangos, gypsy and folk songs, the group’s relaxed stage presence and delightful humor establishes an immediate rapport with traditional and non-traditional classical audiences alike. Performed without scores, their shows radiate a sense of spontaneity and excitement rarely seen on the classical stage.

The 2004-2005 season featured concerts throughout the US, Canada and Guatemala with extended residency programs in Albuquerque NM, Brownsville TX and Kansas City MO. Quartetto Gelato returned for the fourth time to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City with a new holiday program, Christmas from around the World. Summer festival programs featured the premiere of 4 x 4 (a collaborative program with Quartetto Gelato and string quartet) and also a 12 minute commission setting to music by Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich the well-known children’s favorite “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch for Quartetto Gelato and narrator. Mr. Munsch himself was the narrator for the premiere. Quartetto Gelato also performed an outdoor concert at Jackson Triggs winery in Ontario’s wine region summer and the performance was filmed as one portion of a commercial DVD, Quartetto Gelato Explores Music and Wine, to be released in 2006.

The 2005-6 season features over 100 concerts in recital and with orchestra throughout the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Estonia and Asia. The quartet returns to Sweden in November for a 14 concert tour of the country. This season marks the quartet’s first visit to Estonia. In the fall of 2005, the quartet’s first compilation CD was released, Favourite Flavours, featuring highlights from the 5 CDs in their catalogue and sneak preview of their 6th including music from Latin America.

Active in the recording studio, Quartetto Gelato has released Quartetto Gelato Travels the Orient Express celebrating the original journey of the famous train and featuring music from London to Istanbul. Since the release in spring of 2004, the recording has met with immediate critical and public acclaim. The previous recordings, which have played a significant role in the group’s increasing popularity, are Neapolitan Café, Aria Fresca, Rustic Chivalry and their debut recording, simply entitled Quartetto Gelato. The latter two CD’s have literally been heard around the world, since they accompanied Canadian astronaut, Dr. Robert Thirsk, during his NASA flight on board the space shuttle Columbia in 1997.

Quartetto Gelato can also be heard on the soundtrack recording of the major motion picture Only You, starring Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr., on the Sony label. Additionally they have appeared on the hit CD recording of Ashley McIsaak on the A & M record label.

Classical radio listeners across the continent know Quartetto Gelato by their instantly recognizable sound, which is broadcast frequently on the CBC, PRI and NPR networks. In particular, the band has been featured regularly on NPR’s popular Performance Today program, which recognized Quartetto Gelato in 1996 by presenting them with their award for "Debut Artist of the Year." The panel of music critics who made that selection characterized the quartet as "an amazing ensemble that achieves the nearly impossible: they play salon music with real style and classical music with real precision; Great chops and a commitment in all that they play."