Pure Imagination

This program explores the string quartet as a space for creativity, transformation, and possibility. It begins with Strum by Jessie Montgomery, a vibrant and celebratory piece that draws on American folk traditions, layering rhythmic textures and sparkling harmonies to evoke movement, improvisation, and joy. Fanny Mendelssohn’s lyrical and expressive String Quartet in E-flat major follows as an innovative portrait of a composer long overshadowed, now reimagined in full light.

Rounding out the program is Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 59 No. 1, the first of the groundbreaking "Razumovsky" quartets. Bold, expansive, and revolutionary in scope, this work redefined the possibilities of the string quartet, embodying the spirit of artistic daring that continues to inspire musicians and listeners alike.

We invite you to join the PSQ, along with guest artist Sophia Szokolay on violin, as we take a closer look into a world shaped by curiosity, invention, and Pure Imagination.