String quartet to perform Bach, Bartok and Beethoven on Feb. 12 at SUNY Orange

MIDDLETOWN — The American String Quartet will perform selections by Bach, Bartok, and Beethoven at Orange Hall Theatre. The program includes the following: Four Contrapuncti from "The Art of Fugue" by Johann Sebastian Bach, a work written shortly before Bach's death. Each fugue uses the same deceptively simple subject in D minor. Quartet No. 6, the last piece Bela Bartók wrote in his native Hungary. He composed the fourth movement of this moving and poignant piece after learning of the death of his mother. Quartet in F major, Op. 59, No. 1, “Razumovsky” by Ludwig van Beethoven is named for Russian Ambassador Count Razumovksy, who commissioned the quartets for his private musical salon. This intense work demonstrates Beethoven’s middle-period. The American String Quartet has been in residence at  the Manhattan School of Music for 27 years. The players are Laurie Carney, an original member, second violin; Peter Winograd, first violin; Daniel Avshalomov, viola; and Wolfram Koessel, cello. If you go Who: American String Quartet What: Concert of Bach, Bartok, and Beethoven When: 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12 Where: Orange Hall Theatre, corner of Wawayanda and Grandview Avenues in Middletown Cost: General admission, $12; faculty, staff, alumni, senior citizens, $10; students, free Tickets: Buy online at www.sunyorange.edu Information: Call 341-4891, email cultural@sunyorange.edu, or visit www.sunyorange.edu/culturalaffairs