Opus 76 Quartet with Alexander Markov, violin

Program

• Hayden - “Joke” Quartet op.33 no.2
• Tartini - Sonata in G minor "Devil's Trill" arr. for violin and quartet
• Bach - Concerto in E major for violin
• Paganini - Quartet no. 4 arr. for violin and quartet
• Paganini - Sonata in E minor op. 3 no. 6 in E minor for violin and quartet
• Paganini - Cantabile for violin and quartet
• Paganini - Caprice no 24 for solo violin
• Paganini - "Le Streghe" arr. for violin and quartet

The Opus 76 Quartet

The Opus 76 Quartet, established in 2017, has swiftly emerged as a leading force in the classical music world, earning acclaim in prestigious international music journals such as Bachtrack, Gramophone, and The Strad for their exceptional performances, innovative programming, and deep commitment to education and community outreach. Hailed as “Kansas City’s Premier String Quartet” by Kansas City’s The Independent, the ensemble consists of distinguished musicians Keith Stanfield, Zsolt Eder, Ashley Stanfield, and Daniel Ketter. Their March 2023 debut at Carnegie Hall was described by Gramophone as “a fine reflection of their five-year journey from regional emergence to national recognition,” underscoring their rapid rise and significant impact on the classical music scene.

The Opus 76 Quartet's discography is extensive, including complete cycles of Beethoven quartets and recordings of works by Brahms, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, and Schubert. Their recording of Mozart’s "Six Quartets Dedicated to Haydn" for Kansas Public Radio is particularly noteworthy.

The Opus 76 Quartet has had the privilege of collaborating with an impressive roster of distinguished guest artists and organizations. Among these esteemed collaborators are violinist David Kim, violist Paul Neubauer, cellist Noémie Golubovic, clarinetist David Krakauer, and pianists Ramona Pansegrau and Julie Coucheron, as well as the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Cincinnati Symphony, and Cincinnati Ballet.

Dedicated to education and community engagement, the quartet's initiative, “Music Making Minds,” provides music education to underserved communities, fostering a love for classical music among young audiences. The Quartet members also serve in various educational capacities, teaching at prestigious institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, as artists-in-residence at The Midwest Trust Center, and educators-in-residence at the Youth Symphony of Kansas City. Their continued efforts to make classical music accessible and relevant to modern audiences are at the heart of their mission, promising a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Kansas City and beyond.

In the upcoming season, the Opus 76 Quartet will continue to captivate audiences both locally and internationally with a diverse array of performances. Highlights include a debut collaboration with violinist Alexander Markov (November 2025) and return performances with the Kansas City Ballet (January 2026). They will also return to the Midwest Trust Center Series as artists-in-residence for five recitals and the “Music Making Minds” Festival in 2026, as well as undertaking other national and international recitals. Additionally, the quartet will present the OP76 Signature Series in Kansas City, showcasing works which tell the story of the History of Chamber Music in America, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States (August 2025 - May 2026). Esteemed critics from publications such as The Strad, Gramophone, Bachtrack, The Spectator, The Independent, and KC Arts Beat have consistently praised the quartet for their “passionate and precise” performances and “innovative programming,” highlighting their ability to connect with audiences through emotionally rich and technically superb renditions of classical repertoire. For a detailed schedule of their upcoming performances, visit opus76.org.

Alexander Markov

Internationally celebrated violinist Alexander Markov has been hailed as one of the world’s most captivating and versatile musicians. Whether performing as a soloist with prestigious orchestras at major concert halls around the world or playing at a sports arena in front of 25,000 people at the NBA game on his gold electric violin, Markov always makes an instant connection with his audience.

Awarded a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1987, Markov made his New York debut recital at Carnegie Hall in 1983. A Gold Medal winner at the Paganini International Violin Competition, he has appeared as a soloist with some of the world's most celebrated orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Montreal Symphony, Budapest Festival Orchestra, and the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra. Markov has performed with such conductors as Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach, Franz Welser-Möst, and Ivan Fischer, and has been sharing stages with Martha Argerich and other luminaries.

Markov’s reputation in the 19th-century romantic virtuoso repertoire is second-to-none. One of the few violinists in the world who performs the entire set of the 24 Paganini Caprices in a single recital, he is featured in the internationally acclaimed film about great violinists, “The Art of Violin,” directed by the legendary film director Bruno Monsaingeon. His CD release and the video of the 24 Paganini Caprices, distributed world-wide by Warner Classics International, caused a sensation and became a bestseller.

In 2006, Warner released the long-awaited DVD of the 24 Paganini Caprices and it instantly became one of the best-selling classical DVDs on Amazon. Many Caprices were posted by fans around the world on YouTube and some clips have over three million hits.

Markov's musical journey goes beyond his work as a classical violin soloist. While attending high school, he discovered and fell in love with rock music – a love affair that merged with his first love, classical music, when he co-wrote The Rock Concerto with James V. Remington, who also custom-designed Markov’s gold, six-string electric violin. The new, patented electric violin is one-of-a-kind in the world and has a unique sound capable of creating the most extreme contrasts from the soft and sweet to the most powerful and dramatic. The vision of the project is to bridge the gap between rock and classical audiences and to attract young people who otherwise never go to a symphony. Markov continues to write numerous new compositions combining classical and rock genres featuring the electric violin, orchestra, rock group, and a choir.

Markov was born in Moscow and studied violin with his father, concert violinist Albert Markov. By the time he was 8 years old, he was already appearing as a soloist with orchestras and in double concertos with his father. The father and son team still perform together at concert halls worldwide. Markov emigrated to the U.S. with his parents and received his United States citizenship in 1982.