The Princeton Festival continues, as commentator Rob Kapilow, host of the popular radio show “What Makes It Great?,” explores Franz Schubert’s String Quartet in D minor, “Death and the Maiden.” Kapilow will deconstruct key passages from the piece with live musical illustrations, to reveal what makes the music so extraordinary. On the second half of the program will be a complete performance of the work by the Signum Quartett. Tonight’s event is presented in partnership with WWFM – The Classical Network, and will be broadcast live at 89.1 FM and wwfm.org.
“Death of the Maiden” stands near the pinnacle of the Romantic string quartet repertoire. If you’re an ardent Schubertophile, you’ll also want to be on hand for tomorrow evening’s concert, which will round out a complete cycle of the composer’s late quartets, with the Signum playing both the “Rosamunde” and the monumental Quartet in G major. Both concerts, tonight and tomorrow, will begin at 7 pm.
This year, nearly all festival events take place in a specially-constructed outdoor 10,000 square foot state-of-the-art performance tent on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden on Route 206 (55 Stockton Street), not far from the Princeton Battle Monument.
Drop by early, before this evening’s concert to enjoy empanadas, available for purchase from the Hotpanada truck. Tables and chairs will be available for picnicking, or bring your own blanket.
Tomorrow, enjoy a preconcert talk by Schubert scholar Charles Fisk of Wellesley College, who will chat about Schubert’s later years, with a special emphasis on the final quartets. The talk will take place at Morven’s Stockton Education Center, located on the grounds, at 5 pm.
For Schubert, of course, “late” came early, as he died in 1828 at the age of 31. His productivity, and the depth and range of his music, is staggering.
The Princeton Festival runs through June 25, with musical events in a variety of genres presented every evening: opera, jazz, cabaret, musical theater, chamber music, classical and Broadway pops. Baroque music concerts will be presented across the street at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Indulge in free pre-concert talks, a poetry workshop, an on-site bar, and abundant lawn space at Morven for picnicking prior to the concerts. For a complete schedule, visit princetonsymphony.org/festival.
Direct link to tickets for tonight’s concert
https://princetonsymphony.org/performances/what-makes-it-great/2022-06-13
With the balance of the quartet cycle tomorrow evening
https://princetonsymphony.org/performances/schuberts-late-string-quartets/2022-06-14
Signum in concert with “Death and the Maiden”
Empanadas in the truck from Hotpanada