Gretna Music ends its summer season Sept. 18 with a joint performance by two classical quartets.
The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Gretna Playhouse, 200 Pennsylvania Ave., Mount Gretna, and features the Dali Quartet and the Wister Quartet. Each ensemble will play a Beethoven string quartet and then come together to perform Felix Mendelssohn’s String Octet in E-Flat Major, Op 20.
The Dali Quartet is composed of cellist Jesus Morales Matos, violinist Domenic Salerni, violinist Carlos Rubios and violist Adriana Linares. Trained by world-renowned artists, members of the Dali Quartet are from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the United States.
Based in Philadelphia, they are sought after for masterclasses and professional development workshops for students and started their own festival to develop the performance skills of young musicians up through semi-professional level. They are devoted to audience development and to reaching communities of all kinds. The Dali Quartet has joined the faculty at West Chester University as the Quartet in Residence.
The Wister Quartet has earned high praise from critics and audiences alike for its musicianship and memorable performances, including those with guest artists Yefim Bronfman, Alicia de Larrocha, Christoph Eschenbach, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and Yo-Yo Ma. In 1993, the group established its own Chamber Series of Sunday afternoon concerts in the historic headquarters of the German Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Also based in Philadelphia, the Wister Quartet was formed in 1987 and named to honor Frances Anne Wister, founder of the Volunteer Committees of the Philadelphia Orchestra. According to instantencore.com, its members are violinist Nancy Bean, violinist Davyd Booth, cellist Lloyd Smith, and violist Pamela Fay.
Tickets for the performance are $28 and can be purchased online at gretnamusic.org or by calling 717-361-1508.
Before the two quartets take the stage, violinist Kellen Mikesell — a West Shore Christian Academy student — will perform at 6:45 p.m. as part of Gretna’s First Listen series. First Listen provides local talented youth an opportunity to present mini-concerts before mainstage performances. These performances are free and open to the public.
Gretna Music is a summer performance series bringing world-class musicians and artists who otherwise might not travel to Central Pennsylvania to the open-air, pavilion-style Mount Gretna Playhouse. Since its founding, over 250,000 people have attended more than 1,000 mainstage concerts by over 2,000 artists.
For more information, visit gretnamusic.org.
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