Sunday, October 12, 3:00 pm, Sweeney Hall, Smith College
“They bring a new attitude to classical music, one that is fresh, bracing and intelligent” — The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ilmar Gavilán, violin; Melissa White, violin; Jaime Amador, viola; and Felix Umansky, cello. (Click to meet the artists!)
In “Echoes of Inspiration,” the GRAMMY award-winning Harlem Quartet presents an eclectic program that weaves together works from three different centuries. For this 2024-2025 program, the ensemble has selected pieces that each composer wrote to celebrate the influence of their heroes and cultural traditions. The program is anchored by an early Beethoven work, opus 18, No. 5 in A Major, which intentionally reflects the moods and ideas of Mozart’s quartet in the same key. The musical counterpoint the group has selected, Benjamin Britten’s Quartet No. 2, is a heartfelt tribute to Henry Purcell, which Britten composed in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Purcell’s passing. Caroline Shaw’s “Entr’acte” draws inspiration from the minuet of Haydn’s Quartet Opus 77/2, reflecting both innovation and respect for tradition. Guido Lopez-Gavilan’s Cuarteto en Guaguanco rounds out the program — this exhilarating work is inspired by Afro-Cuban Chant.
Through their meticulous selection of works, this ensemble demonstrates their dedication to combining traditional masterpieces performed at the highest level with complementary contemporary works that are writing the future for classical music. Their ability to seamlessly traverse various musical styles while maintaining a signature sound that also honors both the specific style and context of each work, and also the inspirations behind each piece is a testament to their exceptional musicianship and artistic vision.
Concert Program:
“Echoes of Inspiration”
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Quartet in A Major, Op. 18, No. 5
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36
Caroline Shaw (b. 1982) Entr’acte (2011)
Guido López Gavilán (b. 1944) Cuarteto en Guaguancó
(Program subject to change.)