Visions and Reflections (Saturday)

Echoes of Beethoven: Season Finale

As we close this season, we look both back and forward—ending with music that reflects on the past while hinting at what's to come. With the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s death approaching in 2027, this program sets the stage for next season’s deep dive into his enduring influence on generations of composers.

Mieczysław Weinberg – String Quartet No. 2
We begin with Weinberg’s lyrical and poignant second quartet. Written in wartime Soviet Russia, the music is marked by quiet resilience and expressive clarity—qualities that reflect Beethoven’s spirit of perseverance, even without direct quotation.

Alfred Schnittke – String Quartet No. 3
Schnittke confronts the past more explicitly: his third quartet weaves fragments of Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge alongside motifs from Orlando di Lassus and Shostakovich. The result is a haunting collage of musical memory—a powerful meditation on history, identity, and influence.

Felix Mendelssohn – String Quartet in A minor, Op. 13
Mendelssohn’s deeply personal A minor quartet was written in direct response to Beethoven’s late quartets, especially the Op. 132. Rich in youthful intensity and structural ambition, it captures the awe and inspiration Beethoven stirred in a new generation of composers.

This season finale bridges centuries of musical dialogue—from Weinberg’s understated beauty to Schnittke’s postmodern reflection and Mendelssohn’s Romantic homage. Each work speaks, in its own way, to Beethoven’s towering legacy—setting the tone for our 2026–27 season, a yearlong celebration of the composer’s enduring voice.