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Sunday, October 9, 2016 12:00 AM
Sunday, October 9, 2016 8:00 PM // Rackham Auditorium

Beethoven Quartet Cycle
Takács Quartet
Concerts 1 & 2

Performance
Pre-Performance Talk
Photo credit: ellen appel 1920x980
 

The Beethoven string quartet cycle has only been performed in its entirety during the course of a single season by two ensembles in UMS’s 137-year history: the Budapest String Quartet performed all 16 quartets plus the Grosse Fuge over the course of an intense five days in 1965, and the Guarneri String Quartet performed it over six concerts in the 1976-77 season.

During this season, the Takács Quartet will perform the complete cycle in only four venues worldwide, coinciding with the release of a book by Takács first violinist Edward Dusinberre, Beethoven for a Later Age: The Journey of a String Quartet. Dusinberre says, “Playing the works is a thrilling and daunting experience. We feel like tennis players forced out of position, obliged to draw on our physical and mental resources to raise our game. We have rehearsed this music for many years, but performing a Beethoven quartet still inspires an exhilarating sense of danger.” (The Guardian, London)

Pre-Performance Talk. Exploring Beethoven’s String Quartets with Steven Whiting. Saturday, October 8 at 7 pm at Rackham Amphitheatre (4th floor).

PROGRAM (Sun 10/9/2016: Rackham Auditorium)

Quartet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2

Quartet No. 11 in f minor, Op. 95 (“Serioso”)

Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130 with original finale

PROGRAM (Sun 10/9/2016: Rackham Auditorium)

Quartet No. 1 in F Major, Op. 18, No. 1

Quartet No. 10 in E-flat Major, Op. 74 (“Harp”)

Quartet No. 14 in c-sharp minor, Op. 131

Thank You to Our Sponsors

From the UMS Lobby Blog

UMS LOBBY

Artist Interview: Takács Quartet Violinist Ed Dusinberre

Takács Quartet volinist Ed Dusinberre interviewed by U-M Professor of Musicology Steve Whiting.

UMS LOBBY

Listen: Exploring Beethoven’s String Quartets with Stephen Whiting

U-M Professor of Musicology Steven Whiting gives a series of lectures that explore Beethoven's String Quartets. Listen to the recordings of these lectures.

UMS LOBBY

Why are Beethoven’s String Quartets widely regarded as his “greatest compositions”?

A French horn performance major at the University of Michigan dives into the Beethoven Quartets.

Sunday, October 9, 2016 12:00 AM
Sunday, October 9, 2016 8:00 PM

Rackham Auditorium

Beethoven Quartet Cycle
Takács Quartet
Concerts 1 & 2

Performance
Pre-Performance Talk

The Beethoven string quartet cycle has only been performed in its entirety during the course of a single season by two ensembles in UMS’s 137-year history: the Budapest String Quartet performed all 16 quartets plus the Grosse Fuge over the course of an intense five days in 1965, and the Guarneri String Quartet performed it over six concerts in the 1976-77 season.

During this season, the Takács Quartet will perform the complete cycle in only four venues worldwide, coinciding with the release of a book by Takács first violinist Edward Dusinberre, Beethoven for a Later Age: The Journey of a String Quartet. Dusinberre says, “Playing the works is a thrilling and daunting experience. We feel like tennis players forced out of position, obliged to draw on our physical and mental resources to raise our game. We have rehearsed this music for many years, but performing a Beethoven quartet still inspires an exhilarating sense of danger.” (The Guardian, London)

Pre-Performance Talk. Exploring Beethoven’s String Quartets with Steven Whiting. Saturday, October 8 at 7 pm at Rackham Amphitheatre (4th floor).

PROGRAM (Sun 10/9/2016: Rackham Auditorium)

Quartet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2

Quartet No. 11 in f minor, Op. 95 (“Serioso”)

Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130 with original finale

PROGRAM (Sun 10/9/2016: Rackham Auditorium)

Quartet No. 1 in F Major, Op. 18, No. 1

Quartet No. 10 in E-flat Major, Op. 74 (“Harp”)

Quartet No. 14 in c-sharp minor, Op. 131

Thank You to Our Sponsors

PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

  • Ilene H. Forsyth Chamber Arts Endowment Fund

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

  • Charles A. Sink Endowment Fund

MEDIA PARTNERS

UMS LOBBY

Artist Interview: Takács Quartet Violinist Ed Dusinberre

Takács Quartet volinist Ed Dusinberre interviewed by U-M Professor of Musicology Steve Whiting.

UMS LOBBY

Listen: Exploring Beethoven’s String Quartets with Stephen Whiting

U-M Professor of Musicology Steven Whiting gives a series of lectures that explore Beethoven's String Quartets. Listen to the recordings of these lectures.

UMS LOBBY

Why are Beethoven’s String Quartets widely regarded as his “greatest compositions”?

A French horn performance major at the University of Michigan dives into the Beethoven Quartets.

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