Evento

Borodin, Shostakovich, and Dessert

Join the Perseid String Quartet in a concert two very different Russian quartets. Alexander Borodin's String Quartet No.2 is most famous for its beautifully lyrical third movement, the Nocturne. Unusually, Borodin was an accomplished chemist and physician and only composed and played the cello in his free time. Written in the summer of 1881 and completed in two months, historians believe the second string quartet was an anniversary present to his wife. It is full of gentle melodies as well as exciting dance-like textures.

Dmitri Shostakovich wrote his Eighth String Quartet in 3 days in 1960 while in Dresden and dedicated it "To the victims of fascism and war." it is full of his "signature" notes, D-S-C-H, which musically spell his name. Some scholars speculate that he wrote the piece as an epitaph of his own life and planned to commit suicide afterwards, and that he wanted to dedicate it to himself but that the Soviet authorities insisted on the published dedication. Whatever the motivation, his quartet is a poignant expression of grief.

After the concert you are invited to stay for a dessert reception and welcome to mingle with the musicians.

Hannah Frey, Manuela Kaymakanova, violins
Eliana Haig, viola
Stephanie Hunt, cello