Featured Performers

• Danish String Quartet

Program

• SCHUMANN: String Quartet No. 3 in A major, Op. 41, No. 3

• “An Alleged Suite”, a curated suite of dances
       Prelude - CHARPENTIER: Prelude 
             Allemande - JOHN ADAMS: PAVANE: She’s so fine 
             Courante - Trad. Polska 
             Sarabande - BLUMENFELD: Sarabande 
             Gavotte - JOHN ADAMS: Stubble Crotchet 
             Gigue 1 - CHARPENTIER: Gigue française 
             Gigue 2 - JOHN ADAMS: Toot Nipple 

• SCHUBERT: String Quartet No. 14 in D minor "Death and the Maiden", D. 810

"Back in the days in Europe, music could have two functions: Either it was sacred music of the church, or it was music made to dance to. The sacred music was essentially elaborate hymns sung in the church as to praise God or accompany the rituals. The dance music would be performed at parties, social gatherings, pubs and inns. In the late 14th century, it became fashionable to pair different dance tunes and eventually this grew into a standardized musical form: The Dance Suite. The Dance Suite remained as one of the most popular musical forms until the 18th-century arrival of the juggernaut forms of classical music: The sonata, the symphony and the concerto. In our ‘Alleged Dance Suite’, we have taken inspiration from John Adams’ ‘Book of Alleged Dances’, and poured some new music into a very old musical form. Some of the music is quite old (Charpentier), some of it is new (John Adams). There is also some traditional folk music from Sweden and a romantic Russian Sarabande. Together this eclectic mix of music provides a varied little musical journey through the centuries. Humans have been dancing forever, and maybe the swing of Charpentier’s Gique isn’t so different from a Swedish traditional polska. We hope you will enjoy this little set of dances." - Danish String Quartet

The Grammy-nominated Danish String Quartet makes a much-anticipated return to Orange County for an intimate chamber music performance that showcases the group’s innate musicality and captivating energy.

Since making its debut in 2002 at the Copenhagen Festival, the Danish String Quartet has become one of the most sought-after quartets in the world. The recipient of many awards and prestigious appointments, including Musical America’s 2020 Ensemble of the Year and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, the Danish String Quartet was named in 2013 as BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists and appointed to the The Bowers Program (formerly CMS Two).

What they do know is how to be an exceptional quartet, whatever repertory they play.

New York Times

This is one of the best quartets before the public today.

The Washington Post