The Annual Slee Beethoven Quartet Cycle Begins Next Week

Although Beethoven’s symphonies and concertos have earned their prominent roles in the canon of western music, it may be in his 16 quartets that Beethoven’s genius finds its most complete expression.

Thanks to a bequest by Frederick and Alice Slee the quartet cycle, in six concerts, has been annually performed here in Buffalo by the world’s best ensembles for seven decades. Such a remarkable series of concerts exists no where else in the world.

The Slee Beethoven Quartet Cycle was inaugurated by the Budapest String Quartet in 1955. All 16 quartets are performed in a particular sequence Alice Slee created, thus providing Buffalo music lovers a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in some of the greatest music ever created. 

The Dalí Quartet, a Latin American-inspired but classically trained string quartet, will perform the first half of this season’s Slee Beethoven String Quartet Cycle at UB.

The three concerts will take place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14-16 in Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall, North Campus. For tickets and more information click here.