Escher String Quartet Brings Bartók to Santa Fe!

A Journey Through Bartók: The Escher Quartet From New York to Santa Fe

The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival is renowned for its intimate setting and world-class performances. This year, classical music aficionados are in for a special treat: the acclaimed Escher String Quartet will be tackling the complete cycle of Béla Bartók’s string quartets. This marathon of quartets became a tradition with the Emerson Quartet in 1981, and that tradition is now being taken up by the Escher, who will present their second and final U.S. performance of the full cycle in Santa Fe, following a highly acclaimed performance in New York.

The Escher Quartet: Masters of Modernity

Formed in New York City, the Escher Quartet has carved a niche for itself with its passionate and insightful interpretations of chamber music repertoire. Praised by The New York Times for their “penetrating intelligence” and “gorgeous tonal sheen,” the quartet’s members – Adam Barnett-Hart and Brendan Speltz on violins, Pierre Lapointe on viola, and Brook Speltz on cello – are virtuosos in their own right. Their dynamic interplay and commitment to artistic excellence promise a captivating exploration of Bartók’s groundbreaking compositions.

Bartók’s String Quartets: A Revolution in Sound

Béla Bartók, a towering figure in 20th-century music, revolutionized the string quartet genre. His six quartets, composed between 1908 and 1939, represent a journey through the composer’s artistic evolution. From the youthful exuberance of the first quartet to the dissonant complexities of the later works, Bartók infused his compositions with the rich folk music traditions of his native Hungary, creating a sound that is both intensely personal and universally engaging.

An Unforgettable Evening!

The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival offers the unique opportunity to experience all six Bartók quartets throughout one evening. This allows listeners to delve deeper into the stylistic development within the cycle and appreciate Bartók’s mastery of form and expression.

Why You Shouldn’t Miss This

Whether you’re a seasoned chamber music enthusiast or just discovering the world of classical music, attending the Escher Quartet’s performance of the Bartók quartets is a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed. Witnessing the interplay between music and interpretation, the raw emotion and technical brilliance of the performers, promises to be a truly unforgettable evening.

Read the New Yorker Review By Alex Ross!

“I became increasingly appreciative of this quartet’s unerring balance of voices: in the time-stopping middle movement, each player is given an extended solo, like storytellers taking turns around a campfire, and here the eloquence was unbroken.”