Celebrate the spirit of Valentine’s Day with The Munich Philharmonic String Quartet. Featuring chamber selections spanning seven centuries, by the medieval composer St. Hildegard von Bingen, Beethoven, and Alexander Borodin.

The Munich Philharmonic String Quartet

Bernhard Metz, Violin
Clement Courtin, Violin 
Konstantin Sellheim, Viola
Manuel von der Nahmer, Cello

The quartet’s program will feature music by St. Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th century German Catholic nun and mystic. One of the few prominent women in medieval church history, and the rare female composer, her work sparked new interest in the latter part of the 20th century, leading to numerous translations and recordings of her chant melodies.

 The quartet will perform a string arrangement of the antiphon “O Virtus Sapientiae” (“O Strength of Wisdom”). The program also will include Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 18 No. 1, in F Major, and Alexander Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2 in D major.

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Composed between 1798 and 1800, the Beethoven quartet was reportedly inspired by the tomb scene from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Borodin wrote his quartet in 1881 and dedicated it to his wife, Ekaterina Protopova. Some scholars, such as his biographer, Serge Dianin, suggest that the quartet was a 29th anniversary gift.

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The audience will also be treated to an appearance by rising stars from one of Orange County’s leading high school ensembles, Monroe-Woodbury’s Chamber Orchestra, which is led by music educator Lauren Byrne.  After a coaching lesson from the quartet earlier in the day, the orchestra will open with a short work.

St. George’s is handicapped-accessible, with parking across the street. Meet the artists at a reception after the concert.