Pacifica Quartet at Westport Arts Center

The Westport Arts Center is thrilled to announce a performance by the internationally renowned Pacifica Quartet on Sunday, May 14 at 4 p.m. at the Westport Arts Center.

Recognized for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and daring repertory choices, over the past two decades the Pacifica Quartet has gained international stature as one of the finest chamber ensembles performing today. The Pacifica tours extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia, performing regularly in the world’s major concert halls.

Named the quartet-in-residence at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music in March 2012, the Pacifica was also the quartet-in-residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (2009 – 2012) – a position that has otherwise been held only by the Guarneri String Quartet – and received the 2009 Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance.

The performance will feature Mozart’s Quartet in D minor, K. 421, Shostakovich’s Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 73 and Schumann’s Quartet in A minor, Op. 41,     No. 1. 

Russell Platt, co-curator of the Westport Arts Center’s Chamber Music series said of the Quartet, “For more than two decades, the Pacifica Quartet has set a standard of performance that very few ensembles can reach. They are one of the world’s paramount string quartets, and we’re honored to have them finish our 2016-17 season. Their last appearance featured a riveting performance of Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 2, and now the same composer’s magisterial Quartet No. 3 will lie at the center of their program.”

After the performance, guests are invited to a casual reception to celebrate the end of the 2016-17 music season and to get a sneak peak into the upcoming 2017-18 performances from Alexander Platt, who will assume sole curatorship of the series beginning in September.

The backdrop for the concert is the Main Street to Madison Avenue exhibition, featuring two bodies of work with radically different motivations: paintings, illustrations and photography commissioned by Madison Avenue advertising agencies for iconic commercial branding and advertising campaigns – many of which originated in Westport – alongside works from the well-known Pop Art and Contemporary artists who appropriated the advertising imagery.

Tickets are $65 for general admission and $25 for students. Tickets for the concert can be purchased at westportartscenter.org or by calling the Westport Arts Center at 203/222-7070.

The Westport Arts Center thanks WSHU for their support.