Poster Alexander String Quartet
Alexander String Quartet
© Terry Lorant
Performance Today®

The Alexander String Quartet

The Alexander String Quartet is known in part for their recordings of Beethoven quartets. Cellist Sandy Wilson says Beethoven's music can seep into anyone's subconscious and stir up feelings of empathy. On today's show, hear them play Beethoven's String Quartet No. 1 at a concert in New York City.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Missy Mazzoli: Heartbreaker
Michael Mizrahi, piano
Album: Currents
New Amsterdam 75

Missy Mazzoli: Quartet for Queen Mab
Aeolus Quartet
Victoria Bach Festival, Presidio La Bahia Chapel, Goliad, TX

Moritz Moszkowski: Suite for Two Violins and Piano, Op. 71: Movement 1
Daniel Phillips & Livia Sohn, violins | Gilles Vonsattel, piano
The Bank of America Chamber Music Series, Spoleto Festival USA, Dock Street Theater, Charleston, SC

Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4, Op. 90  "Italian"
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra | Gemma New, conductor
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Royce Hall, Westwood, CA

Hour 2

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No. 5 in C minor: Movement 3 Finale Prestissimo
Paul Lewis, piano
Album: Beethoven #4 - Paul Lewis
Harmonia Mundi 901909

Sarah Quartel: Birds' Lullaby
iSing Silicon Valley | Jennah Delp Somers, conductor
Album: Here I Stand
Innova Records 058

Andrea Ramsey: Grow Little Tree
Anny Cheng, piano | iSing Silicon Valley | Jennah Delp Somers, conductor
Album: Here I Stand
Innova Recordings 058

Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op 18, No. 1
Alexander String Quartet
Baruch Performing Arts Center at Baruch College, New York, NY

Alyssa Morris: Tlapalli Tlahuilli
Brook Ferguson, flute | Alecia Lawyer, oboe | Nathan Williams, clarinet | Kristin Wolfe Jensen, bassoon
ROCO | Ward Stare, conductor
ROCO, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX

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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

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