Living the Classical Life

Dedicated to Friedemann Weigle

The award-winning Berlin-based quartet joins Living the Classical Life in New York City and performs excerpts of Beethoven and Hugo Wolf for our cameras in an emotionally intense episode. They also share their insights into unity as an ensemble-- musically and humanly-- as well as searching for meaning in work and in life. They make a special tribute to their fallen colleague in an episode to remember. (Episode 54)

“Our rule about rehearsal from the beginning was to not complain about each other to anybody else afterwards. You don’t talk about Fight Club outside of Fight Club.”

Winner of the prestigious Banff, Young Concert Artists, and Fischoff competitions, the Cleveland Quartet Award, and an Avery Fisher Grant, the Jupiter Quartet features graduates of the Cleveland Institute of Music and Oberlin Conservatory. They discuss competitions, rehearsals, sound, management, group dynamics, and making a living in a changing musical world. (Episode 19)

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

String Quartet No. 14 in d minor, "Death and the Maiden"

I. Allegro

In performance at Smith Memorial Hall, University of Illinois.

“I don’t think performance ever becomes comfortable — we like that risk.”

Seldom are collaborators more sympathetically aligned. Christina and Michelle Naughton have been hailed by the San Francisco Examiner for their “stellar musicianship, technical mastery, and awe-inspiring artistry.” They made their European debut at Herkulesaal in Munich, where the Süddeutsche Zeitung proclaimed them “an outstanding piano duo.” After their Asian debut with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Sing Tao Daily said of their performance, “Joining two hearts and four hands at two grand pianos, the Naughton sisters created an electrifying and moving musical performance.” Their second album, Visions, was named "Editor's Choice" in 2016 by Gramophone Magazine. (Episode 37)

Gottes Zeit is die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106
(Sonatina from "Actus Tragicus")
J.S. Bach/G. Kurtág