Portland String Quartet: Point of Departure

The BMC welcomes the Portland String Quartet for the first time Sunday, February 22, at 2 p.m. The program, titled “Point of Departure,” explores moments when composers stepped beyond the familiar to chart new artistic territory. Each performed piece reflects a turning point — a departure from the expected — inviting listeners to experience the spirit of creative risk and reinvention.

Anton Webern’s Langsamer Satz reveals a lyrical, late-Romantic voice rarely associated with his later atonal work. Ken Benshoof’s Sweeter Than Wine blends classical form with American folk and jazz, creating music that feels both intimate and fresh. Eleanor Alberga’s String Quartet No. 2 bursts with rhythmic drive and bold contrasts, drawing on African-Caribbean roots. Finally, Sergei Prokofiev’s String Quartet No. 2, written during wartime exile, transforms folk melodies into something strikingly original.

The Portland String Quartet includes Callie Brennan, Sophia Szokolay, violins; Brianna Fischler, viola; and Kelly Knox, cello.

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