Like a perfect summer meal, the DaPonte String Quartet’s upcoming concert, entitled “More for Four,” includes four different courses: two light and light-hearted ones, a soulful entrée, and for dessert: Beethoven. It will be performed six times, from July 3-18, in venues in Rockport, East Boothbay, South Bristol, Brunswick, Stonington and Portland.

Four, For Tango is a lively piece by Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, who is credited with inventing the “Nuevo Tango.” Like a good fusion chef, Piazzolla created this work by infusing a  traditional Argentinian tango with American jazz.  

Next on the menu, a palate cleanser: Contemporary composer John Heiss’s Microcosms, a witty and whimsical 10-minute delight. Heiss watched the DSQ perform this piece last year and pronounced it delicious.

By contrast, Samuel Barber’s most famous piece, the Adagio movement from his String Quartet, is almost painfully moving, and leaves you hungering for more. (After hearing the DSQ perform it, the Portland Press Herald reviewer urged them to play the entire Quartet.) But, this time at least,  it is Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 7 in F Major that wraps up the concert.

This summer also sees the Quartet performing in a new venue, Bigelow Labs in East Boothbay, as well as some winter venues that are being used for the first time as summer spaces: the Maine Jewish Museum in Portland, the Rockport Opera House, and the UUA Church in Brunswick.

Performances of “More For Four”:

• July 3, 7:30 p..m, Rockport: Opera House, 6 Central St. Tickets $30.
• July 5, 7:30, East Boothbay: Bigelow Labs, 60 Bigelow Dr. Tickets $30.
• July 6, 7:30, So. Bristol: Union Church, Middle Rd./Rte 129. Tickets $30.
• July 11, 7:30, Brunswick: Unitarian Church, 15 Pleasant St. Tickets $30.
• July 13, 7:00, Stonington: Burnt Cove Church Community Ctr., Airport Rd. Tickets from Opera House Arts, 367-2788.
•  July 18, 7:30, Portland: Maine Jewish Museum, 267 Congress St. Tickets $30.

The DaPonte String Quartet, Maine’s premier string ensemble, moved to Maine more than 20 years ago and now performs over 60 times a year, year-round, from Presque Isle to Ogunquit. Last year it celebrated its 25th year as a string quartet.

Individual and discounted series tickets are available at www.DaPonte.org. Tickets to most concerts are also for sale at Gulf of Maine Books, Brunswick; Longfellow Books, Portland; and Sherman’s Books in Damariscotta, Boothbay Harbor, and Camden. Information at 529-4555.