NINE-TIME GRAMMY-WINNING EMERSON STRING QUARTET GIVES JORGENSEN FAREWELL PERFORMANCE

Named ‘America’s greatest quartet’ by Time Magazine, nine-time Grammy Award-winning Emerson String Quartet will take the stage at UConn’s Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts one last time on Friday evening, September 30 to perform selected works by Felix Mendelssohn (String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 12), Johannes Brahms (String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 67), and Antonín Dvořák (String Quartet in A-flat Major, Op. 105). The highly anticipated Lenard Chamber Music Series concert is part of the ensemble’s farewell tour following their 2021 announcement that Emerson will disband in 2023 after 47 years on the road.  Doors open at 7:30 pm. Performance begins at 8:00 pm.

“Looking back on more than four decades of life in the Emerson String Quartet, it was with a mixture of pride and nostalgia that we have announced our retirement at the end of October of 2023, following a final concert at Alice Tully Hall,” said Emerson violinist and founding member Eugene Drucker.

“As we contemplate our future careers, which will afford us the opportunity to continue performing as individuals and to pass the fruits of our experience on to younger generations of chamber players, we also wish to express our gratitude to all the instrumentalists, singers, composers, actors and directors with whom we have been honored to collaborate.”

The Emerson String Quartet is one of the most celebrated classical music quartets of all time. The ensemble is the recipient of not only the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize and Musical America’s coveted “Ensemble of the Year” Award, but also nine Grammys (including two for Best Classical Album) and three Gramophone Awards.

“It’s just been a great journey to play this music, and it’s a privilege to be part of a long tradition of string quartets,” said Emerson violist Lawrence Dutton. “We’re just part of that chain, and we’ve had a great run.”

ABOUT THE LENARD CHAMBER SERIES:

The Lenard Chamber Series is made possible through the generosity of longtime Jorgensen patrons and CoStars Jean and John Lenard and several donors to the Lenard Endowment. Thanks to the Lenard Endowment, UConn students, non-UConn students and Connecticut youth (K-12) are invited to attend all Jorgensen chamber events for free, including Emerson String Quartet on Sep 30, Apollon Musagète Quartet with Garrick Ohlsson, piano on Oct 16, UConn SFA Faculty Showcase Sophie Shao, cello with John Blacklow, piano on Nov 15, and The Boston Camerata on Dec 6.

ENSEMBLE MEMBERS: 

Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer – violins

Lawrence Dutton – viola

Paul Watkins – cello

PROGRAM:

Mendelssohn - String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 12

Brahms - String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 67

Dvorak - String Quartet in A-flat Major, Op. 105