The Telegraph Quartet – February 20, 2015
Benjamin Britten Three Divertimenti for String Quartet (1938)Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet No. 8 in E minor, Op. 59 No. 2, “Rasumovsky”AntonÃn Dvorák String Quartet No. 14 in A-flat major, Op. 105Join the award-winning Telegraph Quartet for their Old First Concerts debut in an evening of music by Britten, Beethoven, and Dvorák featuring works that alternately represent the spring, summer and autumn of each composers life. The Telegraph Quartet is the recipient of the 2014 Grand Prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and they will be touring the U.S. and abroad, from Maine to Italy, in their second season. Very active in the Bay Area chamber music scene, the Telegraph Quartet is one of the resident ensembles of the Presidio Sessions sponsored by San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music and frequent Guest Artist Ensemble for San Francisco Conservatorys Chamber Music Masters Series. Presenting a selection of diverse yet equally bold offerings, Telegraph will begin with three brilliantly fresh vignettes by Benjamin Britten, the Three Divertimenti, refitted by the composer from an unfinished string quartet of his youth. Second on the program is Beethovens middle “Rasumovsky†quartet, Op. 59 No. 2, varyingly tumultuous and triumphant and written during Beethovens ambitious middle period. Rounding out the program is AntonÃn Dvoráks final String Quartet No. 14, Op. 105, a late work of warmth, nostalgia, and folksy jocularity written towards the end of Dvoráks life. For more information about the Telegraph Quartet and their musical offerings please visit telegraphquartet.com or visit our Facebook page.