(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Catalyst Quartet Returns to Morris Museum's Lot of Strings Music Festival on Sunday, May 16th at 7:00pm with their acclaimed program, Uncovered, showcasing the Music of Black Composers. The Catalyst Quartet and their “lively conversation” return after a triumphant performance of their rendition of Bach’s Goldberg Variations and Philip Glass’s String Quartet No. 3 last Summer. In case of rain, the performance will take place on Wednesday, May 19 at 7:00pm.
Since that time the Grammy Award-winning ensemble has released a new recording to much acclaim. Now, the ensemble The New York Times described as “invariably energetic and finely burnished” returns with selections from their UNCOVERED project. UNCOVERED, which was recently broadcast from the Greene Space on WQXR, celebrates the music of Black composers whose work is often underheard.
On May 16th, the program will include two pieces by Florence Price, Negro Folksongs in Counterpoint and String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, and George Walker's Lyric for Strings.
Hailed by The New York Times at its Carnegie Hall debut as “invariably energetic and finely burnished… playing with earthy vigor,” the Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet was founded by the internationally-acclaimed Sphinx Organization in 2010. The ensemble (Karla Donehew Perez, violin; Abi Fayette, violin; Paul Laraia, viola; and Karlos Rodriguez, cello) believes in the unity that can be achieved through music and imagine their programs and projects with this in mind, redefining and reimagining the classical music experience.
Bachtrack described the Lot of Strings experience this way: "Spectators with their folding chairs, wine glasses and food baskets reminded me of the ambience on the Tanglewood Festival's lawn on a sunny afternoon. The sunset, as seen through the branches of a huge pine, was as spectacular."
All blocks are $50 for an 8’x8′ block which accommodates up to 2 patrons. Availability is currently to 75 blocks per event, due to state regulations. Patrons are welcome to arrive as early as 5:30pm to set up and enjoy the evening sun. You must bring your own lawn chairs. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling 973-971-3706.
“Like all great chamber groups, the Catalyst Quartet is beautiful to watch, like a family in lively conversation at the dinner table: anticipating, interrupting, changing subjects.” – The New York Times
Founded in 1913, the Morris Museum is an award-winning, multifaceted art and cultural institution serving the public through its exhibitions and performances which strive to interpret the past and discover the future through art, sound, and motion. The Museum is home to the historic and internationally significant Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata. Changing exhibits of contemporary content further illuminate its Permanent Collection. The Museum’s Bickford Theatre is a 312-seat performing-arts facility, offering unique programming in film, jazz, and live performance through its innovative series, Live Arts at the Morris Museum. The Morris Museum has a proud tradition of meaningful educational programs and family events. New Jersey’s only Smithsonian Affiliate Museum, Morris Museum is also the first museum in New Jersey to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, it has been designated a Major Arts Institution and has received the New Jersey State Council on the Arts’ Citation of Excellence, among other awards.
The Morris Museum’s Bickford Theatre is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm. The Morris Museum is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
