SF Performances presents Their Finest Hour, a lecture and performance featuring Robert Greenberg and the Alexander String Quartet
2013-12-14
St. John's Presbyterian Church
2727 College Ave, Berkeley, CA
10:00 AM, Saturday, December 14, 2013

[10:01 AM announcements from Ruth Felt]

1. [10:04 AM] Lecture
   [set ends 10:28 AM]

Béla Viktor János Bartók (1881–1945): String Quartet No. 6 (1939)

1. [10:29 AM] Mesto - Vivace
2. [10:36 AM] Mesto - Marcia
3. [10:43 AM] Mesto - Burletta
4. [10:50 AM] Mesto - Molto tranquillo
   [set ends 10:57 AM]

1. [11:23 AM] Lecture
   [set ends 11:54 AM]

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op.25 (1941)

1. [11:55 AM] Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo;
2. [12:04 PM] Allegro con slancio;
3. [12:08 PM] Andante calmo;
4. [12:18 PM] Molto vivace
   [set ends 12:23 PM, no encore]

• Robert Greenberg: lecturer.

Alexander String Quartet

• Zakarias Grafilo: violin;
• Frederick Lifsitz: violin;
• Sandy Wilson: cello;
• Paul Yarbrough: viola.

Up early, puttered about, showered, rolled downhill and arrived to find plenty of open spots in the parking lot. Took my pick, locked the car and walked up to the lobby to see the ushers opening the doors – perfect timing! Saved a good spot, then back to the lobby for a complimentary cup of Peet's – yum! – and outside to enjoy the sunshine for awhile before coming back inside to write these lines.

Another fine outing. Robert Greenberg was witty and entertaining, like usual, and the Alexander String Quartet delivered in spades. Today's closer, Britten's String Quartet No. 1, was a far more assured and complex work than last week's Divertimenti – goes to show that Britten was probably right to leave that earlier effort as is – no use trying to polish a broken crockery!

Back to the calendar!