
2018-2019 Season

From My Life: Quartets by Borodin and Smetana
Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 7pm
560 Music Center
560 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130 MAP
The Perseid String quartet returns to the WashU 560 Music Center to present an evening of music by Borodin and Smetana. A chemist by trade, Alexander Borodin nevertheless devoted much of his free time to performing and composing music. His String Quartet No. 2 in D Major is one of the most beloved in the Western canon, with its serene first movement melody appearing in numerous movie soundtracks, and famously adapted for the Broadway Musical, Kismet.
Bedrich Smetanas searing, affective quartet programmatically reflects different periods in the composers life. String Quartet in E Minor, subtitled From My Life was written following a diagnosis of deafness, and indeed Smetana's tinnitus is portrayed with a high E in the violin mimicking a ringing in the ears. Other movements include a youthful polka and an ode to love. The effect on the listener is of an intimate confession through the economy of four players.

Couts Concert Series: String Quartets of Borodin and Smetana
Sunday, October 7, 2018 at 4pm
2nd Presbyterian Church
4501 Westminster Pl, St. Louis, MO 63108 MAP
Admission FREE!
More Information
A chemist by trade, Alexander Borodin nevertheless devoted much of his free time to performing and composing music. His String Quartet No. 2 in D Major is one of the most beloved in the Western canon, with its serene first movement melody appearing in numerous movie soundtracks, and famously adapted for the Broadway Musical, Kismet.
Bedrich Smetanas searing, affective quartet programmatically reflects different periods in the composers life. String Quartet in E Minor, subtitled From My Life was written following a diagnosis of deafness, and indeed Smetana's tinnitus is portrayed with a high E in the violin mimicking a ringing in the ears. Other movements include a youthful polka and an ode to love. The effect on the listener is of an intimate confession through the economy of four players.

We are excited to return to the Ethical Society of Saint Louis to provide music during their Sunday Platform!
Sunday, November 4, 2018 at 11am
Ethical Society of Saint Louis
9001 Clayton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63117 MAP
Learn moreethicalstl.org/ about this welcoming, inclusive community.

We return to the beautiful Sheldon Concert Hall to present two very different Russian string quartets based incorporating folk themes.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 7:30pm
Sheldon Concert Hall
MAP
Tickets at the door (cash only, please)
$15 General, $10 Senior, $5 Student

Join us for a free afternoon concert at Peace Lutheran Church. We will be performing works by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev, both based on Russian folk themes.
Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 3pm
Peace Lutheran Church
MAP
Admission free, a freewill offering will be taken
Past Seasons
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Fan Favorites: Beloved Chamber Music of Schubert and Ravel Sunday, April 8th at 3pm Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church 9450 Clayton Rd, St Louis, MO 63124 Directions There are certain pieces in the string quartet repertoire you just can't help falling in love with. We'll start with Schubert's emotive, stormy string quartet titled "Death and the Maiden", a favorite among generations of string quartets. When the young Maurice Ravel penned his singular string quartet, he pushed the boundaries of musical form and incorporated diverse influences including Balinese gamelan music. Initially scorned by the musical establishment, his quartet is cherished for its evocative tone colors and musical atmospheres that create a dazzling effect. Fan Favorites at the Sheldon: Beloved Chamber Music of Schubert and Ravel Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 7:30pm Sheldon Concert Hall 3648 Washington Blvd, St Louis, MO 63108 Directions Tickets: $10 at the door Join us for a reprise of our April 8th concert program at the beautiful Sheldon Concert Hall. Music for Good Friday Friday, March 30th at 7pm Third Baptist Church 620 N Grand Blvd, St Louis, MO 63103 Directions Join us as we perform the haunting Adagio from Samuel Barber's String Quartet alongside Schubert's beloved quartet "Death and the Maiden." Interspersed throughout the performance will be timely reflections on mortality, faith, and "last things". No tickets needed. A freewill offering will be taken. The Prodigy and the French Beethoven Sunday, November 19th at 3pm Bethel Lutheran Church 7001 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105 Directions No tickets needed, a freewill offering will be taken. French composer George Onlsow enjoyed strong popular and critical acclaim for his chamber music during his time, but fell out of fashion after his death. His quartets were described by Robert Schumann as approaching Beethoven's mastery of form and style. Onlsow's music is now enjoying a revival and we are excited to share this hidden gem, his Quartet No. 20. The prodigious young Felix Mendelssohn was deeply inspired by Beethoven as he was working on his String Quartet Op. 13, No. 2. Composed when he was only 18 years old, it represents his first mature work of chamber music and contains many references to Beethoven's late string quartets, while firmly establishing his own driving, emotive musical style.620 N Grand Blvd, St Louis, MO 63103 |
Past Seasons:
2016-2017 Season
An Evening with the Schumanns
with Diana Umali, Piano, and Alexander Stefaniak, Guest Speaker
Thursday, October 20th at 7:30pm
Pillsbury Ballroom, 560 Music Center
560 Trinity Ave, St. Louis, MO 63130 Directions
Tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets
An Evening with the Schumanns at SWIC
Thursday, November 1st at 8pm
Schmidt Art Center at Southwestern Illinois College
2500 Carlyle Ave, Belleville, IL 62221 Directions
Admission Free
Beethoven and Dvorak at the Chess Hall
Wednesday, November 16th at 7pm
World Chess Hall of Fame
4652 Maryland Avenue St. Louis, Missouri 63108 Directions
Schumann and Dvorak at the DUC
Thursday, December 1st at 7:30pm
Danforth University Center Lounge at Washington University (Danforth Campus)
6475 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105 Directions
Admission Free
Thursday, December 1st at 7:30pm
Danforth University Center Lounge at Washington University (Danforth Campus)
6475 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105 Directions
Admission Free
Finzi at SWIC
Tuesday, February 7th
Schmidt Art Center at SWIC
Belleville, IL 62221
Map
Admission Free
Beethoven and Brahms at Ladue Chapel
Sunday, February 12th at 3pm
Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church
9450 Clayton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63124, Directions
Freewill offering will be taken.
Sunday, February 12th at 3pm
Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church
9450 Clayton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63124, Directions
Freewill offering will be taken.
Ravel and Haydn at Top Notch Violins
Thursday, May 25th at 7pm
Top Notch Violins
3109 Sutton Blvd, Maplewood, MO 63143, Directions
2015-2016 season
Beethoven and Dohnanyi with Special Guest Diana Umali
Thursday, November 12th at 7pm
Schmidt Art Center at Southwestern Illinois College
2500 Carlyle Ave, Belleville, IL 62221, Directions
Admission Free
Beethoven and Dohnanyi with Special Guest Diana Umali
Saturday, November 21st at 8pm
Tavern of Fine Arts
313 Belt Ave, St. Louis, MO 63112, Directions
Admission Free
Portion of Sale Supports the Performers.
Perseid String Quartet at First Presbyterian Church in Edwardsville
Sunday, January 31st at 3pm
First Presbyterian Church in Edwardsville
237 N Kansas St.
Edwardsville, IL 62025, Directions
Admission Free
Perseid String Quartet at the Tavern of Fine Arts
Saturday, February 27th at 8pm
Tavern of Fine Arts
313 Belt Ave, St. Louis, MO 63112, Directions
Admission Free
Portion of Sale Supports the Performers.
2014-2015 Season
Haydn and Brahms
Thursday, August 7th 2014 at 7:30pm
Tavern of Fine Arts
313 Belt Ave, St. Louis, MO 63112, Directions
Admission Free
Portion of Sale Supports the Performers.
Ladue Chapel Concert Series
Schumann with Diana Umali
Sunday, October 19th at 3pm
9450 Clayton Rd., Ladue, MO 63124, Directions
Freewill Donation
Schumann with Diana Umali
Thursday, October 23rd at 8:00pm
Tavern of Fine Arts
313 Belt Ave, St. Louis, MO 63112, Directions
Admission Free
Portion of Sale Supports the Performers.
Schumann with Diana Umali
Thursday, November 6th at 7pm
Schmidt Art Center at Southwestern Illinois College
2500 Carlyle Ave, Belleville, IL 62221
Admission Free
Borodin and Shostakovich
Saturday, February 21st 2015 at 7pm
Christ the King Catholic Church
7316 Balson Avenue
University City, MO 63130
Directions
The Eisendrath Years: Art Inspires Music
Thursday, April 9th, 2015 at 5pm
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63112
Directions
In a celebration of post-WWII music and art, the quartet will perform Shostakovich's 8th quartet and
works by compostion students at Washington University in St. Louis.
Co-sponsored by the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
More information here.
Hindemith with Emily Truckenbrod
Sunday, April 19th 2015 at 3pm
First Presbyterian Church in Edwardsville
237 N Kansas St, Edwardsville, IL 62025, Directions
Admission Free