Wisconsin’s famed string quartet to play works by Mendelssohn, Beethoven, and Mozart
Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as “One of the greatest quartets of our time,” the Pro Arte Quartet will perform Sunday, September 18, at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor in a concert presented by Midsummer’s Music Ltd. The program features Felix Mendelssohn’s Unfinished String Quartet, Op. 81, Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s String Quintet in G Minor, K. 516.
The Pro Arte Quartet is believed to be the world’s oldest continuously performing string quartet and the first quartet anywhere to enjoy a university ensemble-in-residence status. First formed in 1911-1912, The Quatuor Pro Arte of Brussels was performing at the Wisconsin Union Theatre on the University of Wisconsin campus on May 10, 1940, when Belgium was overrun and occupied by fascist Nazi forces, turning three of its original four musicians into war orphans. By October of that year, the group had officially become the UW Pro Arte Quartet, making it the school’s first artist ensemble-in-residence.
The Pro Arte Quartet is made up of violinists David Perry and Suzanne Beia, violist Sally Chisholm and violincellist Parry Karp. Joining the ensemble for the Mozart quintet is violist and Midsummer’s Music Executive Director and Assistant Artistic Director Allyson Fleck.
According to Midsummer’s Music President and co-founder Jim Berkenstock, “The Pro Arte musicians are masterful, energetic performers who exemplify both warmth and precision through their impressive skills. Listeners can become thoroughly engrossed in the ensemble’s beautiful, intense and passionate music.”
The Pro Arte Quartet concert begins at 3:00pm. Adult tickets are $35, and student tickets are $15. Both can be purchased through midsummersmusic.com or by calling 920-854-7088. Reservations are recommended. The concert is sponsored by Jim Jaeschke, and a reception on the Kress Pavilion deck overlooking the village of Egg Harbor and the waters of Green Bay follows the program.
Midsummer’s Music draws on the extraordinary talent of musicians from the Chicago Symphony, Chicago’s Lyric Opera, Milwaukee Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Aspen Music Festival, China National Symphony and the Ravinia Festival, among others.
Midsummer’s Music was co-founded in 1990 by Jim and Jean Berkenstock, long-time Door County summer residents and principal orchestral players with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. What began as two concerts among friends has become one of the Midwest’s most anticipated chamber music series, bringing thousands of chamber music enthusiasts from around the globe to the magical Door County Peninsula.
Photos
Pro Arte Quartet: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p2fk3kin7gh18s0/PAQ.jpg?dl=0
Pictured left to right: Parry Karp, Suzanne Beia, Sally Chisholm, David Perry
Credit Rick Langer
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For Calendar Listings:
Midsummer’s Music Presents the Pro Arte Quartet
Sunday, September 18, 2022, 3:00pm, Kress Pavilion, Egg Harbor
Eric Lewis concerts with the Griffon String Quartet
Thursday, September 15, 2022, 7:00pm, Woodwalk Gallery, Egg Harbor
Friday, September 16, 2022, 7:00pm, Woodwalk Gallery, Egg Harbor
Saturday, September 17, 2022, 7:30pm, Trueblood Performing Arts Center, Washington Island
Griffon String Quartet Performs with the Civic Symphony of Green Bay
Saturday, October 8, 2022, 7:00pm, St. Norbert College, De Pere