Schedule
December
2
Old First Concerts
8:00 PM PT
Old First Church, San Francisco (click for map)
Hybrid event: in-person and livestream
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart | String Quartet in B-flat Major, K. 589, “Prussian”
Eleanor Alberga | String Quartet No. 2
Ludwig van Beethoven | String Quartet in F Major, op. 59, no. 1 “Razumovsky”
For their first-ever appearance at Old First Concerts, the talented Sierra Quartet showcases two composers whose work bursts with energy: Eleanor Alberga and Ludwig van Beethoven. Eleanor Alberga’s music achieves a unique synthesis between the folk music she heard growing up in Jamaica and the traditions of Western art music. Her compact, masterful String Quartet No. 2 (1994) is driven by interlocking dance rhythms and it demonstrates her synesthetic approach to sound color. Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Razumovsky” quartets pushed Classical forms past their existing limits, receiving a hostile reception from musicians and audiences of the early 19th century, before ultimately finding their place in the hearts of later generations. Even today there is something astonishing about their creativity and emotional depth. Wolfgang Amadé Mozart’s inspired Quartet in B-flat Major, K. 589 kicks off the program on a cheerful note.
Distinguished guests Corina Santos and Jessica Chang join the Sierra Quartet for this performance.
Past Events
October
16
Music on the Hill
7:30 PM PT
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church (click for map)
Tickets $20
Dedicated to supporting the best of San Francisco Bay Area musicians and based at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Music on the Hill has been presenting cutting-edge chamber music concerts since 1998.
Program
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart | String Quartet in B-flat Major, K. 589
Alexandra Bryant | Lady Isabelle Was That Kind of Woman
Antonín Dvořák | String Quartet in F Major, op. 96, “American”
October
9
SF Music Day
12:45 PM PT
War Memorial Veterans Building (click for map)
Free admission
The Sierra Quartet is delighted to participate in SF Music Day, the Bay Area’s free annual ensemble music festival in downtown San Francisco. After the set, stay around to enjoy the diverse creativity our region has to offer.
Program
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart | Allegro from Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, K. 493
Caroline Shaw | limestone & felt
Johannes Brahms | Andante from Piano Quartet in C Minor, op. 60
May
15
Sextets by Brahms and Tchaikovsky
with Benicia Chamber Players
3:00 PM PT
Benicia Community Congregational Church (click for map)
Tickets $20, students $5
Johannes Brahms and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: two great Romantics, born exactly seven years apart. The younger Tchaikovsky wrote music of the heart, centered on emotion and athleticism. And he resented Brahms for his intricate, skillfully crafted Germanic works, calling him “a giftless bastard” and “a conceited mediocrity” in his diary. That was before the two met for dinner, on New Year’s Day 1888, and . . . had a great time. Brahms was coarser in person than Tchaikovsky expected, smoking cigars and letting the ash fall in his beard. Tchaikovsky came off more refined, smoking high-quality cigarettes. Both drank a lot. And they met at least one more time to do the same.
So, want to come hear their music?
Johannes Brahms | Sextet in G Major, op. 36
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky | Sextet in D Minor, op. 70, “Souvenir de Florence”
The Sierra Quartet
with
Alexandra Simpson, viola
Brady Anderson, cello
April
2
Groupmuse: Classic and New String Quartets with the Sierra Quartet
2:30 PM PT
494 Kentucky Avenue, Berkeley, CA (click for map)
Outdoors: bring your own chair, cushion, drinks, snacks
$5 to reserve, $20+ suggested at event
Perseverance shines through this lovely program. Alexandra Bryant’s Lady Isabelle Was That Kind of Woman is inspired by the English folk tale of Lady Isabelle, who dramatically wins her freedom from Sir John, a wealthy knight with a bad habit of drowning women. And Beethoven overcame his own encroaching deafness to create the masterful Quartet op. 59, no. 1, changing the history of the string quartet in the process.
Alexandra Bryant | Lady Isabelle Was That Kind of Woman
Ludwig van Beethoven | String Quartet in F Major, op. 59, no. 1, “Razumovsky”
February
25
Massivemuse: Beethoven in the Park (Street Tavern)
6:30 PM PT
The Park Street Tavern
1901 Park St, Alameda, CA (click for map)
Outdoors: heated tent seating
$25 to reserve, food and drink for purchase at event
Join us for dinner, drinks, and a concert performance! The music is a celebration of composers who left the old forms behind to write something brilliantly new. In Break Away, Jessie Montgomery creates “a seamless dialogue between the written score and the whims of the quartet” by asking the group to improvise. And Beethoven broke free from Classical norms in his masterful Quartet op. 59, no. 1, changing the history of the string quartet in the process.
Park Street Tavern is offering food from small bites to full entrées, plus a full bar and a cocktail list—come and enjoy!
Jessie Montgomery | Break Away
Ludwig van Beethoven | String Quartet in F Major, op. 59, no. 1, “Razumovsky”
December
4
Groupmuse: Backyard Views of the Sierra
4:30 PM PT
1174 63rd Street, Oakland, CA (click for map)
Craft shines through in this program: Byrd was a true harmonic innovator, Jamaican-born Eleanor Alberga elevates dance and sound textures, and Mozart must have gone to some weird, wonderful places to come out with a quartet like this one.
William Byrd | Ave Verum Corpus
Eleanor Alberga | String Quartet No. 2
W.A. Mozart | String Quartet in B-Flat Major, K. 589
November
13
Live @ GGP Bandshell!
2:00 PM PT
Golden Gate Music Concourse (click for map)
A full, satisfying quartet program in a stunning setting. See you there!
Jessie Montgomery | Strum
Robert Schumann | String Quartet in A minor, op. 41, no. 1
Jessie Montgomery | Break Away
Ludwig van Beethoven | String Quartet in F Major, op. 59, no. 1, “Razumovsky”
Free Admission – Click for more info
In collaboration with the SF Parks Alliance, with generous underwriting support by Mrs. Sharon Litsky.
October
28
Groupmuse: Beethoven String Quartet, op. 59, no. 1
6:00 PM PT
Groupmuse Livestream
Hello friends! We’re delighted to share this online performance of Beethoven’s marvelous String Quartet in F Major, recorded in high definition during Festival Rolland’s 2021 retreat in Carmel Valley, CA. Musicologist Jane Vial Jaffe joins for an introductory discussion of the work.
Ludwig van Beethoven | String Quartet in F Major, op. 59, no. 1
October
23
Groupmuse: Dvořák Piano Quintet
3:00 PM PT
Groupmuse Livestream
Hello friends! We’re delighted to share this online performance of Dvořák’s epic Piano Quintet, recorded in high definition during Festival Rolland’s 2021 retreat in Carmel Valley, CA. Musicologist Jane Vial Jaffe joins for an introductory discussion of the work.
Antonín Dvořák | Piano Quintet in A Major, op. 81
with
Ian Scarfe, piano
October
16
Break Away
2:00 PM PT
Goldenrod House
4014 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114 (click for map)
$20+ contribution suggested
Jessie Montgomery | Strum
Jessie Montgomery | Break Away
Robert Schumann | String Quartet in A minor, op. 41, no. 1
Both Jesse Montgomery and Robert Schumann create music that cuts through the noise, yet fits harmoniously in our cultural fabric. This program is vivacious, dynamic, and also beautifully concise—you’d be hard-pressed to find a wasted note in any of the these pieces.
August
26
Festival Rolland 2021
Program 2: That Kind of Woman
5:00 PM PDT
Hidden Valley Dining Room
104 W Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley, CA 93924 (click for map)
Bohuslav Martinů | Three Madrigals for Violin and Viola
Alexandra Bryant | Lady Isabelle Was That Kind of Woman for String Quartet
Antonín Dvořák | Piano Quintet in A Major, op. 81
with
Ian Scarfe, piano
August
24
Festival Rolland 2021
Program 1: Drive
7:00 PM PDT
Hidden Valley Theater
104 W Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley, CA 93924 (click for map)
Robert Schumann | 5 Pieces in Folk Style for Cello and Piano, op. 102
John Adams | Road Movies for Violin and Piano
Ludwig van Beethoven | String Quartet in F Major, op. 59, No. 1, “Razumovsky”
with
Ian Scarfe, piano
April
30
Sierra Spring
7:00 PM PDT
The Sierra Quartet is headed to the Trinity Alps! Join us for a concert celebrating spring, with bite-sized solos from all four quartet members, plus stunning quartet movements by Jessie Montgomery and W.A. Mozart. Hosted by Ian Scarfe, director of the Trinity Alps Chamber Music Festival.
This concert takes place on Zoom. Admission is on a “pay what you can” sliding scale.
April
24
Sierra Spring
7:30 PM PDT
The Sierra Quartet is back! Join us for a concert celebrating spring, with bite-sized solos from all four quartet members, plus stunning quartet movements by Jessie Montgomery and W.A. Mozart. We’ll also hear from Bay Area artist Makiko Harris about the works chosen to accompany the program. Riccardo Guidi returns as the illustrious host.
This concert takes place on YouTube Live. You do not need to buy a ticket, but please sign up on Eventbrite to receive the link!
January
29
Beyond Bach
5:00 PM
We invite you to join all four musicians of the Sierra Quartet in a special online recital featuring Bach and music that he inspired. The concert will be streamed on Zoom. You do not need to buy a ticket, but please sign up on Eventbrite or Facebook to receive the Zoom link.
