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The and PRIZMA, a program of 91社区鈥檚 School of Continuing Studies, are proud to collaborate for the first time on a special series of lectures and concerts devoted to Beethoven鈥檚 string quartets.

Musicologist Richard Turp leads the six-part lecture series , offered in both English and French, which precedes six concerts featuring the complete Beethoven string quartets performed by the extraordinary young American Dover Quartet. The lecture and concert package also includes a VIP invitation to pre-concert talks, as well as post-concert receptions with the artists present.

Deeply passionate, prolific, and living in a time of immense social, political, and artistic change, Beethoven spearheaded classical music's transition from the Classical to the Romantic era. 听The new lecture series tracks Beethoven鈥檚 personal and musical evolution by way of his sixteen string quartets. Master of the form developed by Haydn and Mozart, this remarkable body of compositions is considered to be among the greatest ever written. Lecture topics include music and culture in 18th-century Germany and Austria, Beethoven鈥檚 increasing and irremediable deafness, and Beethoven鈥檚 pivotal role in the emerging Romantic Movement. In addition to Richard Turp, special guest speakers include conductor and pianist Raffi Armenian, former Director of the Conservatoire de musique du Qu茅bec 脿 Montr茅al, Denis Brott, cellist and Artistic Director of the Montreal Chamber Music Festival, and Julie Payette, astronaut and passionate classical music lover.

English lectures take place Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., April 18 - May 23

French lectures take place Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., April 19 - May 24

The complete cycle of Beethoven string quartets will be performed by the , which has 鈥渆njoyed a rise to the top [that] looks practically meteoric鈥� (Strings Magazine). Described by The New Yorker as 鈥渢he young American string quartet of the moment鈥�, the Dover Quartet catapulted to world attention after sweeping first prize in all categories of the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition. 听It has quickly become a major presence on the international scene. With its burnished warmth, incisive rhythms, and natural phrasing, the Dover鈥檚 sound is 鈥渟o distinctive as to be identified within mere minutes鈥� (Philadelphia Inquirer).

The Dover Quartet performs the complete Beethoven string quartets at Pollack Hall over three weekends:

Friday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m.听听听听听听听
Sunday, May 28 at 3:00 p.m.
Friday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m.听听听听听听听听听听
Sunday, June 4 at 3:00 p.m.
Friday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 11 at 3:00 p.m.

is the overall theme of the 22nd edition of the Montreal Chamber Music Festival. 听Founder and Artistic Director Denis Brott, C.M. comments: "Like no other composer, Beethoven ushered in a new musical听language inspired by the French Revolution's Libert茅, 脡galit茅, Fraternit茅. Beethoven's听remarkable prowess and听indomitable听spirit have influenced all music since and his emotional expression and听compositional听innovation continue to inspire and resonate.听 The Festival celebrates his genius with听gratitude and gusto in 2017."

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For complete Festival programming .

For complete PRIZMA programming click here.

PRIZMA, a program of 91社区鈥檚 School of Continuing Studies, partners with the community to offer quality, multi-disciplinary courses to the general population. Their courses offer a wide spectrum of learning, including music, art, science, human development, history, and architecture.

For additional information please contact:
Marisa Gelfusa, PRIZMA Coordinator
marisa.gelfusa [at] mcgill.ca
(514) 398 3627

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