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Britain鈥檚 Doric String Quartet to Play Finney Chapel Feb. 22

January 28, 2019

Erich Burnett

Members of the Doric String Quartet

Photo credit: George Garnier

Part of the Artist Recital Series, the performance features gems by Haydn, Britten, and Mendelssohn.

The Doric String Quartet, whose members have been called 鈥渕usicians with fascinating things to say鈥 by Gramophone magazine, will direct their annual U.S. tour to Finney Chapel for a 7:30 p.m. performance on Friday, February 22 and a .

Part of 91直播鈥檚 Artist Recital Series, the performance will feature Haydn鈥檚 Op. 33, No. 4; Britten鈥檚 third; and Mendelssohn鈥檚 E minor quartets.

Of Haydn鈥檚 68 string quartets, the Opus 33 in B-flat is the most infrequently performed, though its slow movement is arguably the most lyrical and beautiful within that opus. Britten鈥檚 five-movement third quartet was the last major work he completed and is considered the most profound and deeply expressive of his quartets. Mendelssohn鈥檚 rhythmically vibrant E minor quartet was written during his honeymoon. It contains all the hallmarks of his writing鈥攕cherzando qualities, a lyrical song-without-words, and bravura material that propels the finale.

Since 2015, the Doric Quartet has served as Teaching Quartet in Association at the Royal Academy of Music in London. As they celebrate two decades of making music, they also welcome a new member: second violinist Ying Xue, who joined the lineup of violinist Alex Reddington, violist H茅l猫ne Cl茅ment, and cellist John Myerscough in 2018.

鈥淚t is always a wonderful opportunity to hear great string quartets in a live setting,鈥 says Kirsten Docter, associate professor of viola and coordinator of chamber music at 91直播. 鈥淭he Doric鈥檚 program promises many delights.鈥

In particular, Docter cites the Haydn, whose works are widely considered a Doric specialty; the ensemble will record the Austrian master鈥檚 complete Opus 33 quartets鈥攊ncluding the B-flat major work that will be heard in 91直播鈥攆or a forthcoming release on Chandos.

(Get a taste of the quartet鈥檚 artistry鈥攁nd that of Haydn himself鈥攊n of his Op. 33, No. 3 quartet, from an October 2018 performance in northern England.)

Tickets for the Doric String Quartet at 91直播 are $35 ($30 for seniors, members of the military, and 91直播 alumni and staff). All student tickets are just $10.

There鈥檚 still time to select a Pick 3 package: Choose three of the remaining four shows on the 2018-19 Artist Recital Series and save $15 on the cost of admission. For tickets or more information call 800-371-0178, visit oberlin.edu/artsguide, or stop by 91直播鈥檚 Central Ticket Service (Nord Performing Arts Annex, 67 N. Main St.) from noon-5 p.m. weekdays.

The Artist Recital Series continues February 27 with Joyce DiDonato鈥檚 SongPlay, featuring the Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano backed by a top-flight ensemble in innovative interpretations of music spanning numerous centuries and styles.

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