# Robert Greenberg at St. John's Presbyterian Church, December 14, 2013

[SF Performances](http://sfperformances.org/performances/1314/ASQBerkeley.html) presents _Their Finest Hour_, a lecture and performance featuring [Robert Greenberg](http://www.robertgreenbergmusic.com/) and the [Alexander String Quartet](http://www.asq4.com/)  
2013-12-14  
[St. John's Presbyterian Church](http://www.stjohnsberkeley.org)  
[2727 College Ave, Berkeley, CA](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2727+College+Ave,+Berkeley,+CA&hl=en)  
10:00 AM, Saturday, December 14, 2013

## Set One

[10:01 AM announcements from Ruth Felt]

### Robert Greenberg

01. [10:04 AM] Lecture  
[set ends 10:28 AM]

### Béla Bartók: String Quartet No. 6

Béla Viktor János Bartók (1881–1945): String Quartet No. 6 (1939)

01. [10:29 AM] Mesto - Vivace
02. [10:36 AM] Mesto - Marcia
03. [10:43 AM] Mesto - Burletta
04. [10:50 AM] Mesto - Molto tranquillo  
[set ends 10:57 AM]


## Set Two

### Robert Greenberg

01. [11:23 AM] Lecture  
[set ends 11:54 AM]

### Benjamin Britten: String Quartet No. 1

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op.25 (1941)

01. [11:55 AM] Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo;
02. [12:04 PM] Allegro con slancio;
03. [12:08 PM] Andante calmo;
04. [12:18 PM] Molto vivace  
[set ends 12:23 PM, no encore]


## Performers

* [Robert Greenberg](http://www.robertgreenbergmusic.com/): lecturer.

### Alexander String Quartet

[Alexander String Quartet](http://www.asq4.com/)

* Zakarias Grafilo: violin;
* Frederick Lifsitz: violin;
* Sandy Wilson: cello;
* Paul Yarbrough: viola.


## Notes 

Up early, puttered about, showered, rolled downhill and arrived to find plenty of open spots in the parking lot. Took my pick, locked the car and walked up to the lobby to see the ushers opening the doors -- perfect timing! Saved a good spot, then back to the lobby for a complimentary cup of Peet's -- yum! -- and outside to enjoy the sunshine for awhile before coming back inside to write these lines.

Another fine outing. Robert Greenberg was witty and entertaining, like usual, and the Alexander String Quartet delivered in spades. Today's closer, Britten's String Quartet No. 1, was a far more assured and complex work than last week's Divertimenti -- goes to show that Britten was probably right to leave that earlier effort as is -- no use trying to polish a broken crockery!

{{tag>music Robert_Greenberg Alexander_String_Quartet St._John's_Presbyterian_Church  Béla_Bartók Benjamin_Britten Zakarias_Grafilo Frederick_Lifsitz Sandy_Wilson Paul_Yarbrough}}

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