The quartet, lauded by Time as "America's greatest quartet," will return to Spaulding Auditorium tonight to perform pieces by Dvorak, Schumann and Grieg.
Dvorak's D minor Quartet, an upbeat and rhythmic piece reminiscent of the composer's Czech homeland, kicks off this Romantic program. The group will also perform Schumann's A Major Quartet and Grieg's Quartet in G minor.
Drucker and Setzer will alternate as first and second violin, with Finckel, performing his last season before departing the quartet.
In 1981, the group became the first to tackle all six Bartok string quartets in one concert as tribute to the 100th anniversary of his birth. This four-hour feat "made a splash" and was arguably the performance that launched their career, Setzer said.
"The Emerson String Quartet sets the standard for classical string quartets they have been among, if not the best in the world for a long time," said Margaret Lawrence, programming director at the Hop.
The quartet received little recognition as soloists prior to the formation of the group, Drucker said. The ensemble now boasts numerous accolades, including nine Grammy Awards, the Avery Fisher Prize and Musical America's 2000 Ensemble of the Year.
The group's fast-tempo repertoire and its dynamic interaction on stage is "like watching an incredible team that is passing this ball so fast that you can hardly see anything but a blur," Lawrence said.
The quartet first performed at the Hop in 1998, and has since returned four times, most recently in 2009. This ensemble is one of the most exciting live performances, Lawrence said.
"Playing in a string quartet is kind of like building a relationship; they have spent so much time playing together and they have established a sound," classical music student relations advisor Julia Floberg '11 said.
Floberg cited Emerson's rich, full-bodied sound and animated facial expressions, in addition to its stoicism and ability to bring an intellectual dimension to their interpretation.
"They have their interpretation of the music and they are very good at conveying emotion," she said. "It is so beautiful to watch them."
The Emerson String Quartet has recorded the complete string quartets by Beethoven, Bartok, Mendelssohn and Shostakovich and likes to offer thematic programming, Drucker said.
"Our program is usually governed by various principles: contrast of period, contrast of mood or even contrasting works of the same composer," Drucker said.
Though it is ultimately a group effort, Setzer is primarily responsible for selecting the program.
"We have worked very hard to be the best possible ensemble we could be; we are constantly trying to come up with interesting programming ideas," Setzer said.
Cellist Paul Watkins will replace Finckel, who is leaving to devote more time to other endeavors, including his joint artistic directorship of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center with his wife.
"We feel very lucky to have Paul and it has been a very smooth transition so far," Setzer said. "Paul is a great cellist and extremely well-prepared."
The quartet is consolidating its touring schedule, reducing the number of concerts from over 100 each year to approximately 85. When Watkins joins the ensemble, the group will continue to lighten their playing schedule.
"Touring is hard on family life and having to leave young children regularly is not easy, but exposure to classical music has been invaluable for my 19 year-old son," Drucker said.
Setzer attests to the difficulty in finding a balance between career and aspects of family life.
"It is hard to try to be the best friend and best father," he said. "I have been fortunate enough to have people who have understood my limits."
In addition to touring, the ensemble has served as the quartet-in-residence at Stony Brook University since 2002. The four members oversee certain aspects of the chamber music program at the university, coach chamber music and rehearse with student ensembles at the annual spring festival.
"We have done some groundbreaking things, and I am very proud of our career," Setzer said. "We take our music very seriously and always try to play with integrity."
Drucker said he attributes much of the ensemble's success to its dynamic and exciting live performances.
"We are all fairly physical players if the music is energetic and active, we play kinetically and do justice to that energy by keeping the mood," Drucker said.
