Dover Quartet
Emanuel Ax, Piano

Hear “expert musicianship, razor-sharp ensemble, deep musical feeling, and a palpable commitment to communication” (Chicago Tribune) when the Dover Quartet performs music by Britten and Brahms. Emanuel Ax then joins the ensemble to showcase his “fleet fingerwork” (The Guardian) in the challenging solo part of Schumann’s Piano Quintet, an exuberant and inventive work from its opening measures to its thrilling conclusion.

Soloists of the Kronberg Academy
Antoine Tamestit, Viola
Gary Hoffman, Cello

The Kronberg Academy—an international program that provides a springboard for brilliant young string players and pianists—performs classics by Dvořák, Kodály, and Tchaikovsky. Dvořák looks to Czech folk dance in his Terzetto, a work that concludes with a brilliant set of variations. There’s Hungarian folk themes in Kodály’s Duo, seamlessly integrated throughout this powerful work. Despite its title, there’s little Italian in Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, a lyrical work filled with Russian tunes.

Quatuor Ébène

Beethoven’s wit, intensity, and daring are showcased in quartets that span the full course of his brilliant career. The D-Major Quartet’s contemplative tone is expressed in simple themes, but in the finale the composer lets loose with driving rhythms. The “Serioso” is the only quartet Beethoven nicknamed; it’s an impassioned work with tremendous intensity and stormy struggles. There’s also a tempest in the compelling Second “Razumovsky” Quartet, as well as novel touches that include a quote of a Russian folk tune in honor of its dedicatee.