Violist

Escher String Quartet has received acclaim for its profound musical insight and rare tonal beauty. Violinists Adam Barnett-Hart and Brendan Speltz have been residents in the Philip Dukes & Friends series for the past two seasons. For this season of SMF, the full quartet returns for their first featured appearance since 2021, welcoming Dukes to the stage.

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Escher String Quartet feat. Philip Dukes

Trinity United Methodist Church

This opening concert of the series traces a journey from Bach to Brahms and Shostakovich, through the Romantic Era, featuring two composers that admired Bach immensely.

Philip Dukes & Friends I: Bach’s Romantic Odyssey

The expressive splendor that Messiaen drew from his religious mysticism and devotion to nature is on full display in his epic 12-movement work From the Canyons to the Stars. In one of our most powerful musical offerings of the season, conductor Alan Gilbert leads a star-studded performance that features an ensemble of 40 musicians and four soloists: pianist Kirill Gerstein, Berlin Philharmonic Principal Horn Stefan Dohr, New York Philharmonic Associate Principal Percussionist Daniel Druckman, and Metropolitan Opera Principal Percussionist Gregory Zuber. The remarkable work—inspired by the landscape of southwestern Utah—was written in celebration of the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence, and we offer it here, in celebration of our 50th season.

Alan Gilbert Conducts Messiaen

Lensic Performing Arts Center

This thrilling program features music by Mozart; two world premieres, including a Festival-commissioned piano-and-winds quintet by Magnus Lindberg and an oboe quartet by Festival Artistic Director Marc Neikrug; and performances by Alan Gilbert, Berlin Philharmonic Principal Horn Stefan Dohr, members of the Escher String Quartet, and more.

Mozart, Lindberg & Neikrug

New Mexico Museum of Art

The popular Escher String Quartet, praised by The New York Times for their “passionate performances” and “gorgeous tonal sheen,” plays Dutilleux’s only string quartet—the exhilarating Ainsi la Nuit, whose inspiration includes another work on this program: Bartók’s String Quartet No. 4. In between those pieces, the Escher plays Haydn’s wonderfully evocative Bird Quartet.

Escher String Quartet

A Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine Award winner, Mahan’s performances are hailed as “something to treasure” (The Times). Esfahani has set himself apart as the first harpsichordist in a generation whose work spans virtually all areas of classical music. He joins with the Escher Quartet for a program featuring works of J.S. Bach along with a new work by Mark Applebaum.

Mahan Esfahani & Escher Quartet

Shalin Liu Performance Center

Known for their profound musical insight, the Escher Quartet brings a program of Mozart, Bartók and Dvorák. Regular season artists at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Wigmore Hall, this quartet is renowned around the world for its “…eloquent, full-blooded playing” (BBC Music Magazine).

Escher Quartet

Each instrumentation is unique; one memorable tune is heard after another; uplifting energy abounds; feats of virtuosity for violins, violas, cellos, oboes, trumpet, horns and harpsichord leap from the stage. All this and more can be found in Bach’s miraculous Brandenburg Concertos. CMS’s annual performances of these works, continually evolving with new casts of artists, is simply a New York tradition not to be missed.

Brandenburg Concertos

Lincoln Center

We celebrate the end of our 28th season with the string quintet Dvořák wrote in America, inspired by Native American drumming, African American melodies and infused with his Bohemian spirit. Afterwards, join our musicians for the Festival Finale Dinner around the magnificent Inglenook fountain.

Inglenook

Inglenook Winery

The Dover Quartet joins forces with the Escher String Quartet for a unique concert experience.

Pierre Lapointe

Violist

Events

Apr 5, 2024

Escher String Quartet feat. Philip Dukes · Savannah Music Festival

Apr 4, 2024

Philip Dukes & Friends I: Bach’s Romantic Odyssey · Savannah Music Festival

Aug 13, 2023

Alan Gilbert Conducts Messiaen · Santa Fe Chamber Music festival

Aug 9, 2023

Mozart, Lindberg & Neikrug · Santa Fe Chamber Music festival

Aug 8, 2023

Escher String Quartet · Santa Fe Chamber Music festival

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