In the Ciompi Quartet’s tradition of opening each season with a work by Haydn, father of the string quartet, the Ciompi begin their 50th Anniversary Season with the Quartet in G Major, op. 77, no. 1, Haydn’s penultimate work for string quartet. Op. 77 is rich in textures and conversational in style, written at the height of Haydn’s fame and virtuosity. Ten years later, Haydn’s former pupil Beethoven was equally renowned; his Quartet in E-flat Major, op. 74, a work known for its elegant use of pizzicato, reminiscent of the sound of the harp, completes the first half of the program. For the finale, the Ciompi are joined by six-time GRAMMY-nominated jazz singer and longtime Durham resident Nnenna Freelon, who collaborates with arranger Akua Dixon in a set of songs for quartet and voice.

Haydn: String Quartet in G Major, op. 77, no. 1
Beethoven: String Quartet in E-flat Major, op. 74 (“Harp”)
Akua Dixon: New Arrangements of Old Songs for voice and string sextet, with Nnenna Freelon, vocalist and featuring John Brown, bass and Akua Dixon, cello