Kemper Unplugged: Perseid String Quartet

Co-sponsor: Kemper Art Museum

Join the Perseid String Quartet for the St. Louis premiere of Maddalena Lombardini Sirmen's String Quartet No. 1. Sirmen, a violin virtuoso, contributed to the development of the early classical string quartet alongside Haydn and Boccherini. It is fitting, then, to pair this work with Claude Debussy's innovative String Quartet, pushing the boundaries of musical expression by embracing new harmonies and textures.

Arrive early or stay after to grab lunch at the Museum’s Coffee Bar. Enjoy ice cream sandwiches from Sugarwitch, savory deli sandwiches from Parker’s Table, and pastries from Colleen’s. Members get 10% off your purchase with every visit. Learn more and join here.

These 45-minute concerts are free and open to the public.

This event is co-sponsored by the Kemper Art Museum.


Program:

String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 3, No. 1 by Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen
     Andante ma con un poco di moto
     Allegretto

Quartet in G minor by Claude Debussy
     Animé et très décidé 
     Assez vif et bien rythmé 
     Andantino, doucement expressif
     Très modéré – En animant peu à peu – Très mouvementé et avec passion

Perseid String Quartet
Violin 1: Hannah Frey
Violin 2: Manuela Topalbegovic
Viola: Amy Greenhalgh
Cello: Stephanie Hunt

Formed in 2013, the Perseid String Quartet is dedicated to performing chamber music to the highest possible artistic standards, and to creating accessible and enjoyable concert experiences in the St. Louis community. The Perseids have previously appeared at the Sheldon Concert Hall, various venues at Washington University in St Louis, the Schmidt Art Gallery at Southwest Illinois College, the Webster University Concert Series, and many local church concert series.

Members of the Quartet serve as faculty members at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Webster University, and Washington University in St Louis. Their collective performing experience spans the globe and includes styles ranging from historically informed performances on Baroque Instruments to modern and popular music.  More recently this includes the Bach Society of St Louis, Early Music Missouri, Kingsbury Ensemble, Masterworks Chorale, Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, Opera Theatre New Works Collective, Pop! Pop! Pop! Orchestra, Salem Chamber Orchestra, St Louis Chamber Soloists, St Louis Symphony,  and Union Avenue Opera. The quartet members hold advanced music degrees from a wide variety of institutions including the Cleveland Institute of Music, Oxford University, Rice University, Royal College of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Utrecht Conservatory.