Being able to celebrate 10 years together as an ensemble is a significant milestone for any group, but especially a string quartet. So it is significant that this season the four members of Salt Lake City's own Abramyan String Quartet will mark a decadelong collaboration in a unique and genial way — the group's concerts will be free, and all works will be particular favorites of the musicians.
"We didn't have to do a lot of compromising," said first violinist Gerald Elias. "Everyone got to do a couple of the ones they wanted, but more importantly, everyone was happy to do all of the works we've programmed. They truly are our favorite pieces from our catalog of the last 10 years."
Besides Elias, who is the Utah Symphony's associate concertmaster, the Abramyan is composed of symphony colleagues Lynnette Stewart, second violin; Scott Lewis, viola; and John Eckstein, who is the symphony's acting associate principal cello. They'll be in concert Tuesday playing Haydn's Quartet in D major, op. 76, no. 5, Shostakovich's Quartet No. 8 and Beethoven's Quartet in C major, op. 59, no. 3 ("Razumovsky").
"This is going to be a powerful, soulful and heartrending concert," Elias said. "One of the things that worked out really well is the program for this concert. The Beethoven opens with a brooding, questioning introduction, which in mood is similar to the Shostakovich. And the atmospheric slow movement from the Haydn fits in well with the other two."
The Abramyan had originally intended to play Bartok's Quartet No. 5 instead of the Beethoven. But the parts for the work are out of print, and despite their best efforts, no one was able to get a hold of them. "Time was getting short, and we had to find a substitute," Elias said.
As a group decision, the four musicians decided to replace the Bartok with Beethoven's op. 59, no. 3, and Elias for one is glad they did. "This is the only Beethoven quartet we're doing this season, and you can't go a season without Beethoven."
Elias considers the C major quartet to be one of Beethoven's finest works in the quartet medium. "This is a great work, both musically and in terms of being a string-quartet showpiece in its virtuosity. And the fugue finale is a great way to end the concert."
Opening the evening will be the Haydn. "Haydn was an unbelievable craftsman when it came to quartets," Elias said. "The first movement is neither in sonata form nor variations. It's a form of its own. In effect, he uses one theme throughout the movement, and the music's originality and variety is amazing."
The centerpiece of the quartet is its slow movement. The work is in D major, but the slow movement is in the distant, unrelated key of F sharp major. "That is the most bizarre and unusual key to use for a work that's in D major," said Elias. "But that particular key is what gives the movement a glow, or an aura, that is evocative. Besides that, Haydn labels it 'mesto,' which means 'sad,' but it's sad in a nostalgic way."
Elias added that the movement's profound effect on listeners is undeniable. "Scott researched the quartet and found out that Mendelssohn requested the slow movement be played at his funeral." Elias characterizes it by saying, "It's everything Bruckner aspired to but never attained."
The final work on the concert will be Shostakovich's Quartet No. 8. "This is one of his most famous quartets, and really one of Shostakovich's masterpieces." Calling it "experimental," Elias noted that in the quartet the composer borrows themes from several of his earlier works, including the piano trio. "It's a compilation of themes, but it definitely can stand as its own work."
During Tuesday's concert, there will be what Elias calls an "important announcement" made, although he declined to say what that might be. "You'll just have to wait until Tuesday."
Concert Tuesday
What: Abramyan String Quartet
Where: Libby Gardner Concert Hall
When: 7:30 p.m., Jan. 28
How much: Free
E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com