(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Prepare to be captivated by the Renaissance Quartet, featuring violinists Randall Goosby and Jeremiah Blacklow, violist Jameel Martin, and cellist Daniel Hass. Graduates of the Juilliard School and mentored by the legendary Itzhak Perlman, the Quartet brings a unique blend of classical mastery and innovative flair to McCarter Theatre on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 7:30pm. Known for reimagining chamber music traditions, this New York based ensemble combines technical excellence with a bold, forward-thinking approach that appeals to a diverse audience.
The Quartet’s McCarter concert will showcase their technical finesse and interpretive depth. The evening opens with Mendelssohn’s Quartet No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 12, a work that highlights the ensemble’s classical virtuosity. Next is Janáček’s intense Kreutzer Sonata, Quartet No. 1, brimming with fiery passion and drama. The program concludes with Love and Levity, an original piece by cellist Daniel Hass that blends classical and jazz influences, exemplifying the Quartet’s innovative spirit and dedication to musical evolution. This varied selection reflects their commitment to exploring and expanding the classical music canon.
Grounded in more than a decade of friendship and musical collaboration, the members of the Renaissance Quartet share a vision that celebrates and reinterprets classical traditions, drawing from a diverse repertoire spanning Beethoven and Mozart to underrepresented and contemporary composers. Through this approach, they advocate for a more inclusive classical music canon—one that honors a broad range of stories and histories.
The Renaissance Quartet's journey began in the intimate setting of the Hungarian Pastry Shop on Manhattan's Upper West Side, where they established their accessible, community-focused approach to chamber music. Since then, they have performed in venues ranging from concert halls to community spaces and recently embarked on a 2023 tour in Jamaica, where they engaged with local schools and held a benefit recital for the Jamaican Red Cross and the Immaculate Conception High School Orchestra. Through their performances and outreach efforts, the Renaissance Quartet continues to inspire audiences, students, and collaborators to experience classical music in transformative ways.
Tickets start at $33 and are available for purchase online. McCarter Theatre Center is located at 91 University Place in Princeton, New Jersey.
McCarter is one of the country’s flagship theaters and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages. A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence dates back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Kaufmann & Hart’s You Can’t Take It with You, and William Inge’s Bus Stop all had their premieres on the McCarter stage, paving the way for a long history of collaborations with playwrights to launch remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances, reaching millions of audience members around the world. The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock, among many others. Of the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company’s work every year, more than 5,000 are students taking part in McCarter’s robust educational offerings in Princeton, Trenton, and schools throughout the region. McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imagination, and engage communities.
