Britten and Schuberts string quartets on the program
The Howland Chamber Music Circle will present the Alexander String Quartet, Zakarias Grafilo and Frederick Lifsitz, violin; Paul Yarborough, viola; and Sandy Wilson, cello, in a return performance.
Formed in New York City in 1981, the quartet was the first string quartet to win the Concert Artists Guild Competition the following year. In 1985, the quartet captured international attention as the first American quartet to win the London International String Quartet Competition, receiving both the jury’s highest award and the Audience Prize.
Since then, the Alexander String Quartet has performed in the major music venues of five continents. Widely admired for its interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart and Shostakovich, the quartet has also established itself as an important advocate of new music through over 25 commissions and numerous premiere performances.
For its concert at the Howland Center, the quartet has chosen to play two works by Benjamin Britten: 3 Divertimenti for String Quartet and the String Quartet No. 2 in C Major, Op. 36, and Franz Schubert’s String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D.887.
The performance will take place on Sunday, April 21, at 4 p.m. at the Howland Cultural Center, at 477 Main St. in Beacon, and will be followed by a reception to meet the artists.
Tickets are $30 ($10 for students) and can be reserved by calling 845-297-9243 or on HCMC website howlandmusic.org.
