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program II

Open Sesame!

November 2, Monday 7pm. Newton, MA

November 4, Wednesday 7pm. Winchester, MA

November 16, Monday 7:30pm. Lexington, MA

String Quartet in F-major, op.18 N1                                                                    Ludwig van Beethoven

       Allegro con brio

       Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato

       Scherzo: Allegro molto

       Allegro

 

                                     

String Quartet N8 in C-minor, op.110                                                                 Dmitri Shostakovich

       Largo

       Allegro molto

       Allegretto

       Largo

       Largo

Sasha Callahan and Ethan Wood, violins

Alexander Vavilov, viola

Ying-Jun Wei, cello

The heritage of both composers represented tonight is considered a priceless treasure in the history of music and perhaps in the history of art in general. Overestimating the importance of either of them is a daunting task as is overestimating the importance of the genre of a string quartet in their creative output. With this program we will swing the doors wide open to this dual-chambered treasure cove with a performance of one of the very first string quartets that Beethoven ever wrote and one of the most dramatic creations by Shostakovich in this genre.

 

Beethoven’s cycle of six op.18 quartets, first of which is on this program, right away put him on the map as a new and powerful voice in the world of chamber music – a place which he kept ever since. This quartet is full of energetic zeal and witty play accomplished with direct simplicity, one of Beethoven’s signature traits. The sorrowful slow movement is rumored to have been influenced by the crypt scene from Romeo and Juliette.

 

On the much darker side of things, Shostakovich’s 8th quartet expresses with truly Beethovenian magnitude and power the tragedy and defiance of life in the post-World War II Soviet Union. Death and oppression of horrifying proportions witnessed, absorbed and interpreted through the lens of the composer’s sensitive soul and expressed with coherence and focus in 5 linked movements, this music has yet to find an indifferent listener.

Shostakovich

© 2023 by Sheffield Chamber Players

a 501(c)3 non-profit organization

Sheffield Chamber Players

PO Box 301512

Boston, MA 02130

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We are proud to participate in Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture program in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Public Health's WIC Nutrition Program, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and hundreds of organizations by making cultural programming accessible to those for whom cost is a participation barrier.

 

EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive free admission (4 per card) to any self-presented public concert. Please email info@sheffieldchamberplayers.org to reserve your tickets or claim your tickets at the door.

 

See the complete list of participating organizations offering EBTWIC, and ConnectorCare discounts.

Supported in part by...

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