String quartet focuses on Schubert

The Music Department’s Blodgett Chamber Music Series will continue with a performance by the Chiara Quartet. The Chiara is in residence at Harvard University for four one-week periods each academic year, as the Blodgett Artists-in-Residence.

Chiara (key-ARE-uh) is an Italian word meaning “clear, pure, or light.” Comprising Rebecca Fischer and Hye Yung Julie Yoon on violins, Jonah Sirota on viola, and Gregory Beaver on cello, the Chiara Quartet’s concert is free and will be performed in Harvard’s John Knowles Paine Hall at 8 p.m. Feb. 17. Tickets will be available beginning Feb. 3.

The program is an all-Schubert concert and includes his String Quartet in A minor, D. 804 “Rosamunde”; String Quartet in C minor, D. 703 “Quartettsatz”; and String Quartet in D minor, D. 810 “Death and the Maiden.” Renowned for bringing fresh excitement to traditional string quartet repertoire, as well as for creating thoroughly insightful interpretations of new music, the Chiara String Quartet’s recent recording of Jefferson Friedman’s String Quartet No. 3, released in April 2011, has been nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Contemporary Classical Composition” category.

More information about the Chiara Quartet can also be found on Facebook.

The Chiara Quartet will perform a free concert at John Knowles Paine Concert Hall at 8 p.m. Feb. 17. Free, first-come, first-served tickets will be available at Harvard Box Office, Holyoke Center Arcade, beginning Feb. 3.