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Emerson String Quartet

Music of Britten and Purcell Chaconnes & Fantasias

Deutsche Grammophon
Release Date: April 21, 2017

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Emerson String Quartet at Concordia Conservatory, Pt. I
At home with with Eugene Drucker
1 Chacony in G Minor Z  
2 Fantazia No. 6 in F Major Z  
3 Fantazia No. 8 in D Minor Z  
4 Allegro calmo, senza rigore  
5 Vivace  
6 Chacony Sostenuto  
7 Fantazia No. 10 in E Minor Z 741  
8 Fantazia No. 11 in G Major Z 742  
9 Duets. With Moderate Movement  
10 Ostinato. Very Fast  
11 Solo. Very Calm  
12 Burlesque. Fast - con fuoco  
13 Recitative and Passacaglia (La Serenissima). Slow  
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The Emerson String Quartet celebrates its 40th season this year and presents a new recording, Chaconnes and Fantasias: Music of Britten and Purcell, which will be the first release on Universal Music Classics' new US classical record label, Decca Gold, on April 21. Their US tour takes them from California to New York to Virginia this spring and summer, and on April 26 they will perform works from the new album and their extensive repertoire in celebration of the 40th anniversary at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WQXR.

  • Emerson String Quartet violinist: Eugene Drucker goes solo with Poway Symphony Orchestra / The San Diego Union-Tribune
    Posted At: November 11, 2023 12:00 AM
    PSO’s season-opening concert will feature the musician in his first concert following the 47-year-old quartet’s farewell tour, which ended in OctoberThe San Diego Union-Tribune's BETH WOOD writes….After more than four decades as a member of the prestigious and beloved Emerson String Quartet, violinist Eugene Drucker is on his own. Well, not really, since he’ll still be teaching and working alongside the mul...
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  • In the final days of their nearly 50-year career, the Emerson String Quartet plays NPR: tiny desk Concert
    Posted At: November 6, 2023 12:00 AM
    NPR: Tiny Desk Concert writes….The cameras were rolling long before the Emerson String Quartet played a note behind the Tiny Desk. A documentary film crew followed the band into our lobby and kept rolling tape as the players unpacked their instruments, sat down to warm up and joked ceaselessly among themselves.The reason for all the fuss was to mark the final days of the nearly 50-year career of one of mode...
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  • After 47 years, the Emerson Quartet has one more weekend / The New York Times
    Posted At: October 19, 2023 12:00 AM
    The group, famed for its rich vitality, easy power and a vast repertory that it recorded prolifically and toured tirelessly, is saying farewell.The New York Times - Zachary Woolfe writes….Five years ago, Eugene Drucker, a violinist in the Emerson String Quartet, got a call from a financial adviser. To sketch out a plan for Drucker, the adviser needed his target retirement age.“When he asked me, it seemed li...
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  • The Emerson Quartet goes the way of one direction / The New Yorker
    Posted At: October 15, 2023 12:00 AM
    The New Yorker's Fergus McIntosh writes….It was Sunday lunchtime in the Bois de Boulogne, and two members of the Emerson String Quartet were taking a break from their farewell tour. “It’s nice to walk somewhere without a cello on your back,” Paul Watkins, the cellist, said, in a sunlit grove of horse-chestnut trees. The night before, at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, the quartet had played its final concert i...
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  • Emerson String Quartet bids farewell to Yale / YaleNews
    Posted At: September 19, 2023 12:00 AM
    Widely considered one of the defining string quartets of their time, the Emerson String Quartet, which will disband in October, performed a final University concert to a sold-out crowd in the Morse Recital Hall.Yale News writes…..After 47 years together, the legendary Emerson String Quartet performed their final concert at Yale on Tuesday night in the Morse Recital Hall.The Emerson String Quartet gave their...
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  • The Emerson Quartet bids farewell in style / SFCV
    Posted At: April 17, 2023 12:00 AM
    SFCV - Iris Kwok writes…..Few works highlight the dexterity and quality of a group of string players quite like a Beethoven quartet, and on Friday evening, San Francisco Performances’ audience was served a reminder of why the Emerson String Quartet is one of the country’s most acclaimed ensembles.What audience members witnessed in Herbst Theatre last week — Emerson’s eighth and final Bay Area performance be...
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  • The Emerson String Quartet calling it quits. Their last Boston gig coming to Jordan Hall / WBUR
    Posted At: January 18, 2023 12:00 AM
    WBUR's Ed Siegel writes…..The Emerson String Quartet ( Eugene Drucker, violin; Philip Setzer, violin; Lawrence Dutton, viola; Paul Watkins, cello ) will be making their farewell Boston appearance Jan. 22. It might be a stretch to call them the Beatles of classical music, but if the Liverpudlians gave me a deeper appreciation of blues and R&B-based music, the Emersonians opened my eyes to the elegan...
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  • Emerson Quartet makes BBC Music Magazine's '10 greatest string quartet ensembles of all time'
    Posted At: January 17, 2022 12:00 AM
    BBC Music Magazine's Charlotte Smith writes….Choosing 10 of the world’s best string quartets is no easy task – particularly when considering groups past and present. A definitive list could easily encompass tens if not hundreds of first-rate quartets active today, let alone the leading ensembles from previous generations.What is the role of the viola in ensemble playing?Six of the best string quartets about...
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  • Berkshire Bach celebrates Bach at New Year's with ESQ's Eugene Drucker / Northeast Public Radio
    Posted At: December 12, 2017 12:00 AM

    Berkshire Bach celebrates Bach at New Year's with Berkshire Bach Ensemble Director and Soloist, Eugene Drucker, Founder of the Emerson String Quartet, and a program of Bach, Purcell and Mozart. The ensemble will perform three concerts, the first on December 30th at the Academy of Music in Northampton, New Year's Eve at the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington, MA and on New Year's Day at the Troy Saving...
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  • ESQ celebrates 40 Years, with Chaconnes and Fantasias, music of Britten and Purcell / KDFC - State of the Arts
    Posted At: August 15, 2017 12:00 AM

    The Emerson String Quartet celebrated its 40th season this year, and partly inspired by their newest member, cellist Paul  Watkins, who joined them in 2013, their most recent release includes the works of two of England's best known composers: Henry Purcell and Benjamin Britten. Violist Lawrence Dutton and violinist Eugene Drucker say the ensemble's success comes in part from having a sense of humor...
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  • ESQ's Eugene Drucker and Lawrence Dutton discuss Chaconnes and Fantasias with KUSC Radio
    Posted At: August 14, 2017 12:00 AM

    The Emerson String Quartet celebrating its 40th season recorded Chaconnes and Fantasias: Music of Britten and Purcell, the first release on Universal Music Classics' new US classical record label, Decca Gold. On this new album, the Emersons explore the close affinities of the music of Henry Purcell and Benjamin Britten, arguably two of Britain's most well known composers. Included here are B...
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  • ESQ's Eugene Drucker and Lawrence Dutton discuss Britten & Purcell with WQED: Pittsburgh
    Posted At: August 4, 2017 12:00 AM

    The Emerson String Quartet celebrates its 40th season this year and presents a new recording, Chaconnes and Fantasias: Music of Britten and Purcell, on Universal Music Classics' new US classical record label, Decca Gold. The Emersons explore the close affinities of the music of Henry Purcell and Benjamin Britten on this new album, arguably two of Britain's most well known composers. Included here...
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  • ESQ'S Eugene Drucker and Lawrence Dutton tell KMFA: Austin that 'Chaconnes and Fantasias' recording is something of a renaissance
    Posted At: August 3, 2017 12:00 AM

    The Emerson String Quartet is observing its 40th anniversary this season, and to celebrate, they've released a new recording featuring the music of both Benjamin Britten and Henry Purcell. The fact that they've chosen the work of two English composers is no coincidence. If you've been following their career, you may remember that about four years ago they said goodbye to founding cellist David Finckel an...
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  • Emerson String Quartet - Chaconnes and Fantasias is IPR: New Release of the Week
    Posted At: June 26, 2017 12:00 AM

    This year marks the 40th season for the Emerson String Quartet. They are celebrating with a new album called "Chaconnes and Fantasias." "Chaconnes and Fantasias" features music of two of Britain's most famous composers: Henry Purcell (1659-1695) and Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). Four of Purcell's Fantasias and his Chacony in G minor appear alongside Britten's String Quartets Nos. 2 and 3. Although bo...
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  • ESQ's Eugene Drucker and Lawrence Dutton speak with beets&noodz
    Posted At: June 20, 2017 12:00 AM

    Happy 40th anniversary to the Emerson String Quartet! On behalf of WKCR-FM, Columbia University's non-commercial student-run radio station, Jordan spoke with Emerson Quartet's violinist Eugene Drucker (CC '73) and violist Lawrence Dutton about how they're celebrating this year, their newly-released album – Chaconnes and Fantasias: Music of Britten and Purcell – their connection to Columbia Un...
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  • Emerson String Quartet join seven actors for premiere of Shostakovich and The Black Monk / BroadwayWorld
    Posted At: June 7, 2017 12:00 AM

    p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} On Saturday, June 17 at 8 PM, the world renowned Emerson String Quartet is joined with a cast of seven actors for the world premiere of Shostakovich and The Black Monk: A Russian Fantasy at the Detroit Film Theatre, as part of the Black Monk Festival organized by the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival and The Wayne State University Russi...
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  • Emerson String Quartet - Music of Britten and Purcell / KUCI review
    Posted At: May 20, 2017 12:00 AM

    New in the KUCI Classical Library - Emerson String Quartet -  Chacconnes and Fantasias - Music of Britten and Purcell   - (Decca Gold)  As if to provide context for the performances of Benjamin Britten's Sting Quartets # 2 in C Major and # 3 in G Major, this disc brackets  them with five short pieces by Great Britain's  most renowned baroque composer Henry Purcell, on...
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  • ESQ's Eugene Drucker and Lawrence Dutton talk with WKCR about new recording
    Posted At: May 19, 2017 12:00 AM

    The Emerson String Quartet celebrates its 40th season this year and presents a new recording, Chaconnes and Fantasias: Music of Britten and Purcell, which represents the first release on Universal Music Classics' new US classical record label, Decca Gold. On this new album, the Emersons explore the close affinities of the music of Henry Purcell and Benjamin Britten, arguably two of Britain's most...
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  • Emerson Quartet bridges the centuries with music of Britten and Purcell / All Classical Portland
    Posted At: May 17, 2017 12:00 AM

    The members of the Emerson String Quartet are keeping plenty busy, both onstage and in the studio. They're touring, too: the four members of the Grammy® – winning chamber ensemble were in Portland recently (presented by Chamber Music NW), and will return in July. It's all part of a well-deserved celebration of the group's 40th anniversary. While their current cellist, British Paul Watkins, has ...
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  • Emerson String Quartet - Britten and Purcell / New Classical Tracks
    Posted At: May 17, 2017 12:00 AM

    New Classical Tracks is a Syndicated Feature airing Nationally on Classical 24 & Statewide on Minnesota Public Radio. Listen to Julie Amacher's Feature with ESQ violinist - Eugene Drucker & violist Lawrence Dutton They officially formed their quartet in 1976, the bicentennial year of the United States. Violinist Eugene Drucker says that's why they selected a name with cultural overton...
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  • The Emerson String Quartet go all english for anniversary release / Musical Toronto
    Posted At: May 16, 2017 12:00 AM

    This new recording by the Emerson explores a side of Britten that is often overlooked: his admiration for Henry Purcell (1659-1695) and how that admiration was expressed in his music. Britten made ‘realizations' or modern performing editions of numerous Purcell works, including Dido and Aeneas, The Fairy Queen, and the Chacony for strings included on this new CD. He also compose...
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  • ESQ's Eugene Drucker and Lawrence Dutton discuss new recording with Radio Purdue
    Posted At: May 10, 2017 12:00 AM

    Fantastic news for chamber music fans - the Emerson String Quartet has released a new recording of repertoire not in their extensive catalog: music by Benjamin Britten and Henry Purcell! Lawrence Dutton and Eugene Drucker spoke with WBAA's - W. Lafayette IN, John Clare about this Decca Gold offering. Learn more about Chaconnes and Fantasias here. The Emersons play at Ravinia on Monday, July 24th. You...
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  • ESQ's Eugene Drucker and Lawrence Dutton talk Britten and Purcell with WRCJ: Detroit
    Posted At: May 9, 2017 12:00 AM

    The Emerson String Quartet celebrates its 40th season this year and presents a new recording, Chaconnes and Fantasias: Music of Britten and Purcell, which is the first release on Universal Music Classics' new US classical record label, Decca Gold. On this new album, the Emersons explore the close affinities of the music of Henry Purcell and Benjamin Britten, arguably two of Britain's most well kn...
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  • ESQ: Britten, Purcell - Chaconnes & Fantasias is WFMT: Featured Release
    Posted At: May 2, 2017 12:00 AM

    Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Emerson String Quartet releases "Chaconnes and Fantasias: Music of Britten and Purcell." With repertoire never before recorded by the quartet, the album comprises Benjamin Britten's String Quartets Nos 2 and 3 as well as a selection of chaconnes and fantasias by Henry Purcell. Emerson String Quartet: Chaconnes & Fantasias on Decca is WFMT: Chicago - Feat...
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  • ESQ's Eugene Drucker and Lawrence Dutton speak with Classical Radio about new Britten - Purcell recording
    Posted At: April 26, 2017 12:00 AM

    The Emerson String Quartet celebrates its 40th season this year and presents a new recording, Chaconnes and Fantasias: Music of Britten and Purcell, which is their first release on Universal Music Classics' new US classical record label, Decca Gold. Their US tour takes them from California to New York to Virginia this spring and summer, and on April 26 they will perform works from the new album and t...
    Bookmark and Share

  • ESQ, still going strong / The Epoch Times
    Posted At: April 24, 2017 12:00 AM

    The Emerson String Quartet is in the midst of its 40th anniversary season, and the group is marking the occasion with, among other events, a new CD and an upcoming concert at Carnegie Hall. The album begins with Purcell's "Chacony in G Minor, Z 730" in an arrangement by Britten (who also wrote an arrangement of the piece for string orchestra). The genesis of the work is unknown and even the title is myst...
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  • ESQ will close La Jolla Music Society - chamber series / San Diego Union-Tribune
    Posted At: April 19, 2017 12:00 AM

    The Emerson String Quartet, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, will be in San Diego on Saturday as part of the La Jolla Music Society's Revelle Chamber Music Series. There's no shortage of accolades and achievements for the Emerson String Quartet - violinists Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer, violist Lawrence Dutton and cellist Paul Watkins. Nine Grammys, including two for best...
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  • Emerson String Quartet celebrates 40th anniversary with new recording and WQXR: Greene Space performance
    Posted At: April 9, 2017 12:00 AM

    The Emerson String Quartet has amassed an unparalleled list of achievements over four decades: more than thirty acclaimed recordings, nine Grammy Awards, three Gramophone Awards, the Avery Fisher Prize, Musical America's "Ensemble of the Year" and collaborations with many of the greatest artists of our time. The Quartet joins WQXR: New York & Audience live in The Greene Space to celebrate its 40th an...
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  • Emerson String Quartet puts atonality on display at Stanford's Bing Concert Hall / San Francisco Classical Voice
    Posted At: March 29, 2017 12:00 AM

    While the term "atonal" may be most commonly associated with German expressionism and 12-tone composition, earlier French impressionists also deviated from tonality with techniques including nontraditional chord progressions and an embrace of exotic, non-Western scales. On Friday night at Stanford's Bing Concert Hall, the peerless Emerson String Quartet put these multiple meanings of atonality on display...
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  • Emerson String Quartet set for Stanford's Bing Concert Hall / SFGATE
    Posted At: March 22, 2017 12:00 AM

    It's easy, and not entirely wrong, to regard the string quartet as a quintessentially European phenomenon. One of the great and lasting legacies of the Emerson String Quartet's 40-year career has been its ability to shine a distinctively American light on this tradition. This weekend's program, featuring quartets by Ravel, Berg and Debussy, could scarcely be more Eurocentric. But expect the ensemble to p...
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  • Eugene Drucker chats with WCLV about DG-ESQ-52 CD set
    Posted At: January 22, 2017 12:00 AM

    With 9 Grammy Awards and 3 Gramophone Awards, the Emerson String Quartet bestrides the world of chamber music like a colossus.   Its polished and authoritative performances, its comprehensive and mighty discography, its fearless embrace of the new and unusual as well as the classics - all have placed this string quartet high in the pantheon of chamber music. DG's tremendous 52 CD new r...
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  • Emerson String Quartet Violist - Lawrence Dutton Q&A with Westchester Magazine
    Posted At: January 11, 2017 12:00 AM

    Now celebrating its 40th year producing some of the world's premier classical music, it's difficult to imagine an honor that the Emerson String Quartet has not yet earned. The influential foursome has racked up a whopping nine Grammy Awards, an Avery Fisher Prize, three Gramophone Awards and been named Musical America's "Ensemble of the Year." Violist Lawrence Dutton, violinists Eugene Drucker and P...
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  • Eugene Drucker talks about what it means to play with the ESQ / Houston Public Media
    Posted At: December 15, 2016 12:00 AM

    As of 2016, the Emerson String Quartet has been around for 40 years. For comparison, here is a brief list of other awesome things that have been around for 40 years: Benedict Cumberbatch, The Muppet Show, the movie Rocky, the Blues Brothers, Big Red Gum, the game Whack-a-Mole, VHS tapes, and the Ramones' debut album. In this episode, ESQ violinist - Eugene Drucker talks about what it means to play fo...
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  • Emerson String Quartet sells out Celebrity Series show / Boston Musical Intelligencer
    Posted At: November 22, 2016 12:00 AM

    Tales of birth, death, oppression and academic politics lay behind the three works performed by the Emerson String Quartet at Sunday's Celebrity Series Boston concert in a sold-out Jordan Hall. Borges once noted that it takes great skill to make a story seem simple, and that applies as well to the honest, straightforward, "simple" and highly refined playing we heard. Mozart's K. 421 is the second of ...
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  • Emerson String Quartet are 'top of their game' at Wigmore Hall / Financial Times
    Posted At: November 14, 2016 12:00 AM

    Most birthday events end with some kind of celebratory finale. For its 40th anniversary recital, though, the Emerson String Quartet had other ideas. As an encore the players chose the slow movement from Beethoven's last string quartet, marked "Cantante e tranquillo", offering the balm of a soft, songful chorale - unexpected, but inspired. Formed in New York in 1976, the Emerson String Quartet has var...
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  • Emerson String Quartet open 'Tuesday Musical' season with world premiere / Akronist
    Posted At: September 26, 2016 12:00 AM

    Tuesday Musical's 2016-17 Main Stage Season opens Tuesday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. in EJ Thomas Hall with the Emerson String Quartet's 40th anniversary celebration and world premiere of English composer Mark-Anthony Turnage's "Shroud." The Akron audience will hear the world premiere of "Shroud" before performances of the piece at Lincoln Center in New York City and Wigmore Hall in London. Tuesday Musical is ...
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