Attacca Quartet to perform 2019 Beethoven string cycle

The internationally acclaimed Attacca Quartet will present this season’s Slee/Beethoven String Quartet Cycle at UB, with the first two concerts set for Feb. 15 and Feb. 17 in Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall, North Campus.

The program for the Feb. 15 concert at 7:30 p.m. will feature Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 127; Quartet in F Major, Op.18, No. 1; and Quartet in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3.

For the Feb. 17 concert at 3 p.m., the musicians will perform Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 74 (“The Harp”); Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2; and Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131.

UB is almost certainly the only place in the country — or the world, according to Philip Rehard, concert manager for the Department of Music — that presents the Beethoven string quartet cycle annually. The annual presentation of the cycle was established at UB during the 1950s by the estate of Frederick and Alice Slee.

UB’s presentation is also unique in that ensembles appearing in the series cannot dictate the order in which they present the individual quartets: The Slees’ bequest stipulates the order in which the quartets are to be performed, Rehard says.

This season marks the 63rd consecutive presentation of the Slee/Beethoven String Quartet Cycle at UB.

The remaining concerts in the cycle will be performed March 8 and 10, and April 26 and 28.

The Attacca Quartet — Amy Schroeder, violin; Keiko Tokunaga, violin; Nathan Schram, viola; and Andrew Yee, cello — has been praised by The Strad for encompassing ​“maturity beyond its members’ years,” with The Washington Post writing, ​“Mastery like this is scarce enough in quartets that have played together for decades.”

The quartet tours extensively in the United States; recent and upcoming highlights include appearances at Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concerts, Wolf Trap, Carolina Performing Arts, Chamber Music Detroit and a residency at the National Sawdust, Brooklyn.

This season, quartet members will also make their debut in the New York Philharmonic’s newly announced Nightcap series.

The Attacca’s most recent album release included string quartet works of Michael Ippolito that were performed as part of the group’s residency at National Sawdust and included three concerts of works by living composers. The group’s next recording project will feature string quartet works of Caroline Shaw.

Tickets for all of the concerts in the Slee/Beethoven String Quartet Cycle are available through a variety of outlets at the following pricing structure:

UB faculty, staff, alumni, seniors and non-UB students

$10 plus $2 fee online at Ticketfly

$10 plus $4 fee by phone at 877-987-6487 (Ticketfly)

$14 in person at the Center for the Arts (noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday)

$17 in person at the door (one hour before concert time)

General public

$15 plus $2 fee online at Ticketfly

$15 plus $4 fee by phone at 877-987-6487 (Ticketfly)

$19 in person at the Center for the Arts (noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday)

$22 in person at the door (one hour before concert time)

UB students are admitted free with ID.

For a complete listing of all concerts being presented by the Department of Music, visit the department’s website.