While Wolf’s “Italian Serenade” is a light-hearted look at young men smitten by love, Schubert’s “Quartet No. 15 in G Major” is often described with words like “enormous.” It is a major departure from his earlier works, "which all sounded like Mozart or Haydn," according to DSQ cellist Myles Jordan. But this work outstripped everything else he'd done. "It’s massive. Only the middle and late works of Beethoven are comparable," says Jordan. 

 

“Bartok's Quartet No. 2,” on the other hand, is a piece that "ranges from Gregorian Chant, to blood boiling tribal rhythms, to mosquito dances.  There is a little something for everyone in it," says violinist Ferdinand Liva. "My foot gets stomping just thinking about it."

 

Performances of “Obsessions” -  May 5 – 4 p.m. – St. Columba’s Church, 32 Emery Lane, Boothbay Harbor; May 6 – 3 p.m. – Unitarian Church, 15 Pleasant St., Brunswick; May 10 – 7:30 p.m. – Jewish Museum, 267 Congress St., Portland;  May 11 – 7 p.m. – Rockport Opera House, 6 Central St., Rockport; and May 13 - 3 p.m. – Lincoln Theater, 2 Theater St., Damariscotta.

 

The DaPonte String Quartet is Maine’s premier string ensemble. Founded in 1991 in Philadelphia, it moved to Maine over 20 years ago and now performs more than 50 times a year state-wide and year-round, as well as touring nationally and internationally.  

 

Tickets are $25, and are available at www.DaPonte.org, at Sherman’s Books in Damariscotta, Camden, and Boothbay Harbor; Longfellow Books in Portland; or Gulf of Maine Books in Brunswick. More information: 207-529-4555.