This event is made possible by the generosity of Iain & Stephanida Christie.

The greats don’t ask permission. Sure, a string quartet has and will always have two violins, a viola and a cello— it’s the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup of chamber groups, perfectly balanced. But when the musical idea is clearly formed, the great artist breaks rules with abandon. Hence, Anton Arensky, protégé of Tchaikovsky, decided to turn the string quartet upside down using the formation of one violin, one viola and two cellos. Yup, dark chocolate. (To spend a moment longer with this analogy, viola is therefore the peanut butter, which feels right.)

The Quartet in A minor is a tribute to Tchaikovsky, composed in memoriam. Russian Orthodox plainchant informs the sound world, the richness of two cellos providing gravitas. However, there are fireworks galore, and ultimately this work is more an uplifting celebration of life rather than a lamentation of life lost.

Anton Arensky (1861-1906)

String Quartet No. 2 in A minor (1894)

I. Moderato

II. Variations sur un thême de P. Tschaikowsky. Moderato

III. Finale. Andante sostenuto

---

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Rowena Hammill, cello; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Stephen Miahky, violin