The renowned DaPonte String Quartet (DSQ) is thrilled to announce a series of performances featuring the exquisite works of Franz Joseph Haydn and Erich Wolfgang Korngold from Feb. 14 to March 1.

The DSQ will grace audiences in various venues throughout the state, bringing their unique artistry and passion for chamber music to both traditional and contemporary settings. Starting on Valentine’s Day, the quartet will captivate listeners with Haydn’s elegant quartet, known for its wit and depth, alongside the lush, romantic style of Korngold’s second quartet that beautifully blends melodic richness and effervescence.

This concert series promises to be a celebration of the classical repertoire, appealing to long-time enthusiasts and new audiences alike. Performances are scheduled in cities including Portland, Brunswick, and Ellsworth, among others, showcasing the quartet's dedication to engaging communities through the power of music.

Locations and times:  Feb. 14:  7 - 8:45 p.m. Union Hall, 24 Central St., Rockport; Feb. 15:  3 - 4:45 p.m.  Lemont Hall, 2 Pleasant St., Brunswick; Feb. 16:  3 - 4:45 p.m.  St. Columba's Episcopal Church, 32 Emery Lane, Boothbay Harbor; Feb. 20:  7 - 8:45 p.m.  Maine Jewish Museum, 267 Congress St., Portland; Feb. 22: 3 - 4:45 p.m. Sanford Springvale Historical Society, 505 Main St., Springvale; Feb. 27:  7 - 8:45 p.m.  First Church in Belfast, UCC 8 Court St., Belfast; Feb. 28:  4 - 5:45 p.m.  Eagle Hill Institute, 59 Eagle Hill Rd., Steuben; and March 1:  3:30 - 5:15 p.m. The Barn at Woodlawn, 19 Black House Drive, Ellsworth.

Tickets are available for purchase through the DaPonte String Quartet website and at local venues. Don’t miss this chance to experience the magic of live chamber music! For more information and tickets, go to www.dapontequartet.org.

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): "String Quartet in D Op. 20 # 4" (1772): Written at age 40, the mature composer Haydn’s six string quartets Op. 20 collectively stand as a critically-important development in the history of music. Op. 20 #4 is written in a style reminiscent of central-European Zigeuner or gypsy folksongs and dances, which Haydn loved and incorporated into many of his chamber works, exactly as Johannes Brahms did a century later.

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957): "String Quartet #2 in E-at Major Op. 26" (1933): “In music history there have been but three superlative child prodigies, each of whom far surpassed seasoned masters in their intuitive grasp of the art. They were: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn and Erich Wolfgang Korngold.” The "E-at Major Op. 26" is the second of Korngold’s three ingenious string quartets. Its general character is as witty and effervescent as might be expected, to the point that it seems to stand as a counterpart to the puckish Viennese theatrical character Hanswurst, a model of sophisticated élan and the inspiration for many Viennese “personalities,” over more than a century.