“Vivid and bold … [providing] plenty to cherish” (Scotsman), the Isidore Quartet offers a program that spans two centuries of harmonic innovation. The ensemble takes audiences on a journey through musical evolution, from the elegant classicism of Mozart to the dreamlike sonorities of Dutilleux and the lush, evocative soundscapes of Ravel.
The program opens with Mozart’s String Quartet No. 19, famously nicknamed the “Dissonant” for its strikingly modern and unconventional harmonies in the slow introduction. A groundbreaking work in its time, the quartet showcases Mozart’s mastery of form and contrast, blending moments of tension with radiant lyricism.
Shifting to the 20th century, these Steans Institute alumni perform Henri Dutilleux’s Ainsi la Nuit, an impressionistic masterpiece that explores color, texture, and time in a series of hauntingly beautiful, interconnected movements. Inspired by the spectral qualities of sound, the piece unfolds like a dream, immersing listeners in a world of shifting sonorities and shadowy hues.
The program concludes with Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet, a work that dazzles with its rhythmic drive, shimmering textures, and echoes of Basque and Asian music. From its delicate opening to its explosive finale, Ravel’s quartet is a stunning display of color and energy.
