The acclaimed DaPonte String Quartet brings two masterworks of the string quartet repertoire to Portsmouth, New Hampshire in an upcoming concert featuring Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet in E minor, Op. 59 No. 2, and Benjamin Britten’s String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36. The performance will take place at St. John's Episcopal Church, 100 Chapel Street, Portsmouth, NH on March 22 at 2pm. Tickets and information at www.dapontequartet.org.
Celebrated for performances that combine intellectual depth with emotional immediacy, the DaPonte String Quartet continues its mission of presenting chamber music at the highest artistic level while fostering a close connection with regional audiences. These concerts place two monumental quartets in dialogue across more than a century of musical history, illuminating how composers from different eras grappled with tradition, innovation, and expressive intensity.
Beethoven’s Op. 59 No. 2, one of the three “Razumovsky” quartets, stands at the threshold of the composer’s middle period. Bold in scale and dramatic in spirit, the work pushes the boundaries of the classical quartet with sweeping gestures, striking contrasts, and a sense of restless energy that forever changed the genre.
Complementing Beethoven’s revolutionary voice is Britten’s String Quartet No. 2, composed in 1945 and inspired by the legacy of Henry Purcell. The quartet’s luminous opening, intricate contrapuntal writing, and transcendent final Chacony create a powerful statement of renewal and reflection, marking Britten as one of the most important composers of the twentieth century.
Together, these works offer audiences an evening of profound musical conversation—linking past and present through invention, rigor, and expressive force.
Visit the DaPonte String Quartet at www.dapontequartet.org
