Alexander String Quartet

A Friends of Classical Music event.

The internationally-noted Alexander String Quartet returns to Carmel for our final concert of the Friends of Classical Music 2016 season.

Celebrating its 35th Anniversary in 2016, the Quartet has performed in the major music capitals of five continents, securing its standing among the world’s premier ensembles. The Quartet has appeared at Lincoln Center, the 92nd Street Y, and the Metropolitan Museum in New York City, Jordon Hall in Boston and Dumbarton Oaks in Washington. Recent overseas tours brought them to over 13 countries throughout Europe and South America. In 2015 the Quartet toured Poland in a debut performance at the Beethoven Easter Festival. In the Fall 2016, a documentary film, Con Moto, based on that tour was released.

"They were, to put it simply, terrific of tone, virtuosity and balance. The general quality level, as well as all the particulars of communicative virtuosity, place the Alexander Quartet right up there with the best on today's international scene.”
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

The evening starts with Haydn’s String Quartet in C major, Op. 76, No. 3, “Emperor,” followed by Britten’s Three Divertimenti for String Quartet and Schubert’s String Quartet No. 15. in G major, D. 887.
Haydn’s String Quartets, Op. 76 composed in 1797 form the last complete set of string quartets that Haydn composed and show the hand of a master at every moment. They are among his most ambitious chamber works, deviating from their predecessors’ standard sonata form and distinguished by the brilliance of its writing.

Britten began writing Three Divertimenti in late 1920’s. Dissatisfied, he continued to work on it, but it was not published until 1983. These three short pieces offer an early example of his writing for string quartet, a medium that would become more important to him later in his career.

Schubert wrote his fifteenth and final string quartet in the short span of eleven days. “Schubert was a master of the ingenious modulation. “This is mercurial music – elusive, haunting, and finally very moving.”- Eric Bromberger
 

The performance will be in:

Gilead Presbyterian Church

9 Church Street Carmel, NY 10512