Beethoven: Quartet in F minor, Op. 95 ("Serioso")

Allegro con brio Allegretto ma non troppo (4:44) Allegro assai vivace ma serioso (11:40) Larghetto espressivo; Allegretto agitato (16:16) VERMEER QUARTET Shmuel Ashkenasi, 1st violin Mathias Tacke, 2nd violin Richard Young, viola Marc Johnson, cello Since Beethoven’s “serioso” quartet is one of the most popular of the cycle, the Vermeer played it countless times all over the world. One particular performance stood out from others because of the very special circumstances. For many years, the United States Supreme Court has hosted its own annual concert at the Court. The justices themselves take turns organizing these events, and the invited guests include many of the most important government officials in Washington D.C. Not only was Ruth Bader Ginsburg one of the most consequential justices in American history, but she was a serious lover of classical music. When it was her turn to organize the Court’s May 22, 2003 concert, she chose the Vermeer. She knew their playing well from the many CDs they had made for Cedille Records – whose president is her son, James Ginsburg.