An aristocratic salon, complete with gold-leaf coffered ceiling, welcomes a revered French ensemble for the concluding concert of our two-year Beethoven cycle in grand style. The elegance of the room matches the elegance of the playing in this program of early and middle period quartets (Op. 18/2 in G and Op. 74 in E-flat “Harp”), along with Beethoven’s last completed work in any genre (Op. 135 in F). “... individual ability, shared vision, convincing interpretation, and more than a touch of spontaneity rolled together to create ... a matchless performance” (The Strad).


Saturday, 10 April, 1 pm: “Beethoven Encounter”

Historic Wm. Bayley Residence
"The Transcendent Beethoven": In this sixth and final lecture of his Beethoven Encounters series, musicologist Byron Adams explores the last years of Beethoven's life while he was writing his late sonatas, symphonies, and string quartets. Beethoven's fatal illness and death will be discussed, followed by a concise survey of Beethoven's lasting influence, an influence and an accomplishment that has transcended the composer's death and stood the test of time. The lecture will be followed by a champagne reception.

This Beethoven Cycle (Year 2) is made possible in part by a grant from the Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation.

This concert is cosponsored by The Ebell of Los Angeles.