Cochrane RancheHouse Theatre’s premiere performance promises to bring the sounds of the world to the Cochrane stage.
The Feb. 25 concert by Edmonton’s Vaughan String Quartet is the first of four live theatre productions to make up the theatre’s inaugural season. Del Ben’s company Teatro dell’Eco partnered with the Town of Cochrane’s Recreations, Culture and Arts division last year to develop a diverse slate of arts programming, including a musical and an environmental play.
The Vaughan String Quartet is made up of two couples and has been described as one of the most active young chamber groups in western Canada. Originally from Brazil, violinist Vladimir Rufino and his wife, violist Fabiola Amorim, came to Edmonton in 2012 to work toward their doctorates in music.
Shortly after they arrived, they met another couple – violin player Mattia Berrini and cellist Silvia Buttiglione – who also just moved to Alberta from Italy.
All four quickly hit it off, thanks to their similar backgrounds as accomplished international musicians: Buttiglione played principal cello with orchestras in Berlin, Budapest, Munich and Zurich; Berrini was a member of the Milano Classica Orchestra; Amorim has played at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Symphony Space in New York – and Rufino has been a chamber musician in Portugal, Argentina, Germany and more.
Together, their traditions and training blended together to produce a rich and successful sound.
“Although we have different backgrounds, musically, we fit very well,” Rufino said.
Since their formation, the quartet has twice been the artist-in-residence at The Banff Centre and received the Luminato Festival String Quartet Fellowship. They have performed in New York City and in Europe. But it’s Canada that Rufino said provides a stable and successful foundation for the troupe.
“Canada is such a welcoming place – we feel so welcome here,” he said. “It’s a young country, yet it has such a vast culture that’s impressive to see.” Rufino said the Cochrane performance is special as guests will be treated to some new music – including a composition entitled Suite Porpora.
The foursome plans to record their first CD in May for release later this year, and they hope it expresses the joy of their international journey so far.
“We represent ... different cultures coming together,” said Rufino. “The quartet is very special for us.”
