Meta4

For Those Departed

Antti Tikkanen violin
Minna Pensola violin
Atte Kilpeläinen viola
Tomas Djupsjöbacka cello

Renowned for their openness, curiosity, and versatility, Finnish quartet Meta4 makes their Celebrity Series debut with a program steeped in remembrance and reflection. They begin with an evocative work by Kaija Saariaho, a composer with whom they’re deeply associated. Saariaho’s second string quartet, bearing the descriptive name “Terra Memoria” and the dedication “For Those Departed,” sets a poignant tone for the program. 

Shostakovich’s Fourth Quartet, written in memory of a friend and composed during a period of Stalinist repression, sets a lamenting yet somber and restrained tone. Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, with a third movement that ranks among the most sublime in classical music, offers a final hymn of thanksgiving.

This performance is generously supported by
Sally S. Seaver, PhD.