This episode features a survey of the sounds of string quartets and other foursomes, captured in concert on the Heifetz stage. Capped off by a performance of the Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor from the Blackfriars Playhouse of the American Shakespeare Center, featuring Heifetz Institute founder Daniel Heifetz and the late, great cellist Lynn Harrell.
This Episode’s Playlist
J.S. Bach, arr. N. Kitchen: Prelude No. 18 in G-sharp minor, BWV 887
from the Well Tempered Clavier Book II
Borromeo Quartet:
NIcholas Kitchen, violin
Kristopher Tong, violin
Mai Motobuchi, viola
Yeesun Kim, cello
The Kitchen Studio, Boston, MA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 06.21.2021
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59, No. 3, “Razumovsky”
I. Allegro
Kenneth Naito, violin
Sory Park, violin
Steven Baloue, viola
Dominic Lee, cello
Blackfriars Playhouse, American Shakespeare Center, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.05.2019
Samuel Barber: String Quartet, Op. 11
II. Adagio
Rachell Ellen Wong, violin
Daniel Aizensthadt, violin
Matthew Cohen, viola
Clare Bradford, cello
Galvin School Auditorium, Wakefield, MA
Heifetz Institute Recording & Wakefield Community Access TV Production | 04.10.2016
Dvořák: Bagatelles, Op. 47
II. Tempo Di Menuetto
III. Allegretto Scherzando
V. Poco Allegro
Yezu Woo, violin
Julia Angelov, violin
Coleman Itzkoff, cello
Florence Jowers, harmonium (1915, built by the Putnam Organ Co., Staunton, VA)
Great Hall, Blackburn Inn & Conference Center, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 03.26.2021
Respighi: Italiana fr. Ancient Airs & Dances [excerpt]
SoHyun Ko, violin
Minchae Kim, violin
Jerome McCoy, viola
Dilshod Narzaillaev, cello
Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 12.16.2022
Brahms: Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25
III. Andante con Moto
IV. Rondo alla Zingarese
Daniel Heifetz, violin
Caterina Longhi, viola
Lynn Harrell, cello
Dina Vainshtein, piano
Blackfriars Playhouse, American Shakespeare Center, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.19.2012
Go Deeper
Read founder Daniel Heifetz‘ appreciation and reminiscences of the memorable week that cellist Lynn Harrell spent in Staunton teaching at the Heifetz Institute, capped off by the performance heard in this episode.
At the turn of the 20th century, the biggest, most bustling business in our home city of Staunton, Virginia was the W.W. Putnam Organ Works, which claimed to be “the largest exclusive reed organ factory in the world.” Read about how this vi!tal piece of Staunton’s musical past is connected to a present-day performance in this episode.
From Funerals to Festivals, the Curious Journey of Samuel Barber’s ‘Adagio for Strings’ is a great listen from NPR that traces how the American composer’s contemplative second movement to his 1936 string quartet became a national elegy