The Smithsonian Chamber Music Society returns to the refined atmosphere of the Renwick Gallery’s Grand Salon, playing two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicolo Amati—in this popular three-concert series.

The Axelrod Quartet welcomes its new violist, James Dunham (formerly of the Cleveland Quartet), in three programs, each containing one of the quartets Mozart wrote for Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia. The 200th anniversary of Haydn’s death and that of Mendelssohn’s birth are both noted, as is the less-known contribution to the genre by Luigi Cherubini, generally remembered for his operas and religious music. A Beethoven quartet concludes each concert. As an added bonus, one hour prior to each program, SCMS artistic director Kenneth Slowik continues his popular pre-concert lectures, shedding light on the glorious music and the life and times of the featured composers.

The Axelrod String Quartet: Marc Destrubé and Marilyn McDonald, violins; James Dunham, viola; Kenneth Slowik, violoncello

Sat., May 2
Haydn: Quartet in G Major, Op. 64, No.4
Mozart: Quartet in D Major, K575
Beethoven: Quartet in F Major, Op. 135

CODE: 1P0-029