Hope United Church of Christ

The Griffon String Quartet performs its 2025 season finale concerts. String Quartet No. 3, “Glitter, Doom, Shards, Memory” by Schulamit Ran • String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26 by Erich Wolfgang Korngold • Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57 by Dmitri Shostakovich. Roy Meyer & Alex Norris, Violins; Oryann Tsaig, Viola; Jesse Nummelin, Cello. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted.

Beethoven authorized his publisher to arrange his 7th Symphony for String Quintet. In an age when the symphony orchestra was relatively rare, a chamber arrangement improved the opportunity for sales. This intimate and profound glimpse into the heart of the work is revelatory. Dvořák’s Notturno and Bruch’s recently published Quintet provide provocative precursors for this concert of masterpieces.

These three late Romantic Trios are steeped in “Amour.” Beginning with a work entitled “Romance Without Words,” we proceed to the voluptuous works of Lalo (famous for his Symphonie Espagnole) and Ernest Chausson. If you can, bring someone you like to hold hands with.

Pick the five greatest Piano Quintets in the literature and Franck’s has to be among them. Saint-Saëns was the pianist at the premiere. Here is an opportunity to hear Jeannie Yu in her favorite repertoire. Flutist Heather Zinninger returns to perform Amy Beach’s colorful and evocative Theme and Variations with strings. This program will close our season at our annual Labor Day Gala at Björklunden. A special and celebratory afternoon indeed!