Takács Quartet with Julien Labro, bandoneon

The world-renowned Takács string quartet (amazingly approaching their 50th anniversary as an ensemble!) is touring the United States with bandoneon virtuoso Julien Labro, tonight making his Celebrity Series debut. Labro’s instrument of choice, the bandoneon, comes from the same concertina family of instruments as the better-known accordion, and he is an astonishing practitioner singlehandedly changing popular perception about what’s possible on the instrument. The Takács Quartet, named “one of the world’s greatest string quartets” by the New York Times and “chamber music royalty” by Bachtrack, has a similar penchant for innovation across new and historic works.

This performance will thankfully feature them in both capacities, as they perform Ravel’s “String Quartet in F Minor” alongside the Boston premieres of new works by Bryce Dessner (a GRAMMY Award winner as both a classical composer and member of The National) and Clarice Assad (a vital and genre-defying composer from Brazil’s heralded Assad musical family). Rounding out the show will be a mid-concert solo performance of originals by Labro, demonstrating why he is one of the most in-demand bandoneon and accordion players in the world. Altogether, this is a wonderfully varied chamber music showcase that will dazzle in the First Church in Cambridge’s immaculate acoustics.

Bryce Dessner New work (Boston premiere)*

Julien Labro Solo set TBD

Maurice Ravel String Quartet in F Major

Clarice Assad      New work (Boston premiere)*

*Co-commissioned by Celebrity Series of Boston