The great poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe described the string quartet in the following way: “You hear four sensible persons conversing, you profit from their discourse and you get to know the characteristics of the instruments.”
In this election year, we need all the sensible conversation we can get. Fortunately, the next few weeks offer lots of string quartets — and other similarly sane and subtle chamber ensembles.
On Thursday, August 8, in Lanesboro, the annual Stringwood Chamber Music Festival wraps up with headliner Frank Almond. You may remember Almond as the violinist who was attacked with a taser in a parking lot after a concert, so thieves could abscond with his $5 million Stradivarius. That story had a happy ending, as told by the FBI Art Crime Team.
This Friday in Brainerd, the Lakes Area Music Festival presents a recital by Grammy-winning soprano Julia Bullock. In addition to appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, you might have spotted Julia on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, or on television performing in the Kennedy Center Honors’ tribute to Renee Fleming.
Last but hardly least, the Duluth Chamber Music Festival returns to the Twin Ports with a week of concerts spanning August 12 to 16. It’s the third year of the festival, which is a labor of love created by friends who love classical music and Duluth!
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