To conclude their 2004-05 residency, the Vega String Quartet will finish their traversal of Beethoven quartets in grand style on Friday, April 16, at 8 p.m. in the Schwartz Center's Emerson Concert Hall. After a pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m., the quartet will perform "Grosse Fugue, op. 133," and quartets from Beethoven's early and middle periods.

"This season has been very exciting for us because performing the complete Beethoven quartets is like climbing Mt. Everest for a string quartet. We saved the best and hardest program for last," said violist Yinzi Kong. "The 'Grosse Fugue' is like the Ninth Symphony, or the Hammerklavier piano sonata, but for string quartet. It was thought to be impossible to play when it was first published. In fact, it was originally the last movement of his great Bb quartet, but Beethoven was persuaded to replace it with an easier piece."

The Vega's final concert promises to be unforgettable, according to William Ransom, Mary Emerson Professor of Piano.

"Attendance has increased at each subsequent concert, and it has been very gratifying to see the community respond to the Vega residency and the Beethoven project," said Ransom, who developed the residency as the core of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta's (ECMSA) Emerson Series in his role as ECMSA artistic director.

In addition to the magic of Beethoven and the talents of the award-winning Vega, Ransom promised even more. "We'll have a signing of Vega's new CD and autographed books by Lewis Lockwood, the Beethoven scholar from Harvard," Ransom said. "The pre-concert lecture will feature Dr. Ben Arnold, a long-time Emory faculty favorite who left last year to become director of the School of Music at the University of Kentucky. There will be some special surprises, too."

Comparing their residency to previous Emory visits, the quartet gave high praise to the Schwartz Center and the depth of interaction with scholars, students and the community.

"Performing the complete Beethoven string quartets in the incredible Emerson Concert Hall has been a dream come true," said violinist Jessica Wu.

"It is simply a perfect hall, said violinist Wendy Chen. "Incredible sound, big but intimate, warm and clear--it doesn't get any better. It is as good as Carnegie Hall, but less intimidating."

The quartet has performed around campus from the Dobbs Center to informal concerts in residence halls as part of the new Arts at Emory series, "Art in Unexpected Places," and the Emory Coca-Cola Artists-in-Residence Series.

"Taking the arts campuswide and watching people respond has been the most satisfying experience of my 19 years at Emory," Ransom said. "This has proven that the arts can, and should be, central to the Emory experience. I hope to do much more."

"We see more and more students coming to our concerts," Chen said.

At first their crowds were less varied in age, but following Vega's outreach efforts they have attracted more undergraduates. Their residency has included sessions with the Emory Symphony Orchestra and high school students; coaching an Emory student quartet; playing Beethoven excerpts and discussing them from the performer's point as guests in music Chair Stephen Crist's music history class; and appearing in a variety of classes in other departments, discussing music's relationship to each subject.

In addition to their final Beethoven concert, Vega will perform with Ransom on Sunday, April 18, at 4 p.m. in the Miller-Ward Alumni House. This free program will include Dvorak's "Quintet for piano and strings."

Tickets for the April 16 concert are $20; $12 for faculty/staff; free for Emory students. For more information or to order tickets, call 404-727-5050.

To conclude their 2004-05 residency, the Vega String Quartet will finish their traversal of Beethoven quartets in grand style on Friday, April 16, at 8 p.m. in the Schwartz Center's Emerson Concert Hall. After a pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m., the quartet will perform "Grosse Fugue, op. 133," and quartets from Beethoven's early and middle periods.

"This season has been very exciting for us because performing the complete Beethoven quartets is like climbing Mt. Everest for a string quartet. We saved the best and hardest program for last," said violist Yinzi Kong. "The 'Grosse Fugue' is like the Ninth Symphony, or the Hammerklavier piano sonata, but for string quartet. It was thought to be impossible to play when it was first published. In fact, it was originally the last movement of his great Bb quartet, but Beethoven was persuaded to replace it with an easier piece."

The Vega's final concert promises to be unforgettable, according to William Ransom, Mary Emerson Professor of Piano.

"Attendance has increased at each subsequent concert, and it has been very gratifying to see the community respond to the Vega residency and the Beethoven project," said Ransom, who developed the residency as the core of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta's (ECMSA) Emerson Series in his role as ECMSA artistic director.

In addition to the magic of Beethoven and the talents of the award-winning Vega, Ransom promised even more. "We'll have a signing of Vega's new CD and autographed books by Lewis Lockwood, the Beethoven scholar from Harvard," Ransom said. "The pre-concert lecture will feature Dr. Ben Arnold, a long-time Emory faculty favorite who left last year to become director of the School of Music at the University of Kentucky. There will be some special surprises, too."

Comparing their residency to previous Emory visits, the quartet gave high praise to the Schwartz Center and the depth of interaction with scholars, students and the community.

"Performing the complete Beethoven string quartets in the incredible Emerson Concert Hall has been a dream come true," said violinist Jessica Wu.

"It is simply a perfect hall, said violinist Wendy Chen. "Incredible sound, big but intimate, warm and clear--it doesn't get any better. It is as good as Carnegie Hall, but less intimidating."

The quartet has performed around campus from the Dobbs Center to informal concerts in residence halls as part of the new Arts at Emory series, "Art in Unexpected Places," and the Emory Coca-Cola Artists-in-Residence Series.

"Taking the arts campuswide and watching people respond has been the most satisfying experience of my 19 years at Emory," Ransom said. "This has proven that the arts can, and should be, central to the Emory experience. I hope to do much more."

"We see more and more students coming to our concerts," Chen said.

At first their crowds were less varied in age, but following Vega's outreach efforts they have attracted more undergraduates. Their residency has included sessions with the Emory Symphony Orchestra and high school students; coaching an Emory student quartet; playing Beethoven excerpts and discussing them from the performer's point as guests in music Chair Stephen Crist's music history class; and appearing in a variety of classes in other departments, discussing music's relationship to each subject.

In addition to their final Beethoven concert, Vega will perform with Ransom on Sunday, April 18, at 4 p.m. in the Miller-Ward Alumni House. This free program will include Dvorak's "Quintet for piano and strings."

Tickets for the April 16 concert are $20; $12 for faculty/staff; free for Emory students. For more information or to order tickets, call 404-727-5050.