Classical Pick of the Week: UCLA Live!

Royce Hall has always been the spot for the classical concerts in the Westside. This week, they host two world class events, with performances by the Takács Quartet and the Guarneri String Quartet.

The Takács celebrate the gypsy roots in Bartok's music, with legendary Hungarian vocalist Marta Sebestyén. Bartok, who also happened to be Hungarian, is best known for his Romanian Folk Dances, Concerto for Orchestra, and Music for Percussion, Strings, and Celeste (heard in the Shining. Muzsikás will also perform with the quartet, a popular dance movement in Hungary.

The cellist Peter Wiley (of the Guarneri String Quartet) is hosting a masterclass at USC and is joining the world famous quartet at Royce Hall for Mendelssohn's Glorious Quartet, an octet by William Bolcom, and a work by our very own Esa-Pekka Salonen. They are joined by the Johannes String Quartet for some of the works and this takes place on Saturday night.

The Takács Quartet | November 21st, 8 PM @ Royce Hall

The Guarneri String Quartet | November 22nd, 8 PM @ Royce Hall

Photo by chelseagirl via Flickr