The sounds of the Muir String Quartet filled the Boston University Tsai Performance Center last night for the ears of 200 music aficionados.
Named after Sierra Club founder John Muir, the quartet honors the environmental organization’s founder’s ideals with humanitarian efforts, including its nonprofit label, “EcoClassics.” Net proceeds from the sale of CDs go toward conservation organizations and music performance programs for children studying music performance, according to the group’s website.
The quartet of professors from the College of Fine Arts has been in residence at BU since 1983. Quartet members Peter Zazofsky, Lucia Lin, Steven Ansell and Michael Reynolds have had music written for them by distinguished composers, and offer summer workshops at the BU Tanglewood Institute.
The performance featured guest artist Alexander Fiterstein, an internationally renowned clarinet player who studied at the Israel Arts and Sciences Academy, the Interlochen Arts Academy and the Julliard School. Having appeared with numerous orchestras, the first-prize winner of the Carl Nielson International Clarinet Competition was “asked to join [the quartet]” at BU two days prior to the event, after he performed with the group at a concert in Rhode Island. Fiterstein’s visit to BU was his first, and he said he was not sure if there would be a large student turnout.
BU students, alumni and others attended the performance.
Harold Basser, of Lexington said he has been “going to Muir for 20 years” and said it would be “pitiful” if there was not a large turnout.
CFA freshman Shyang Puri said she heard about the event from a friend and wanted to hear Zazofsky, who teaches classes at CFA in violin performance, Puri’s area of study.
CFA freshman Meghan Kaulkett “wanted to hear [the quartet] in concert.”
Kaulkett said promoting classical music at BU is “important, but not necessarily something that will be popular with the student body.”
Quartet fans said they utilize each opportunity to see them perform.
“They are the best string quartet in this whole area,” Boston resident Tony Francalangia said.