The University of Oregon School of Music and Dance and the Oregon Bach Festival announce the return of the Emerson String Quartet to the Chamber Music@Beall concert series.

Called “the world’s best group of chamber musicians” by Fortune Magazine, “The Emersons” will open the 49th season of the chamber music series and present works by Ravel, Grieg and Debussy.

The quartet will perform at Beall Concert Hall Oct. 2, at 3 p.m. Also, a free pre-concert "Musical Insights" talk will be held at 2:10 p.m. with UO musicologist Eliot Grasso in Room 163, Frohnmayer Music Building.

Formed in 1976, the Emerson String Quartet has amassed a long list of achievements over three decades: more than 30 acclaimed recordings, nine Grammy Awards — including two for best classical album — three Gramophone Awards, the Avery Fisher Prize, Musical America’s Ensemble of the Year and collaborations with many noteworthy artists. In January 2015, the quartet received the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award, Chamber Music America’s highest honor, in recognition of its significant and lasting contribution to the chamber music field.

The 2016-17 season marks the Emerson Quartet’s 40th anniversary. The milestone year reflects all aspects of the quartet’s venerable artistry with high-profile projects and collaborations, commissions and recordings.

With the Chamber Music@Beall series, the Oregon Bach Festival has established a year-round presence in the Willamette Valley. The festival partners with the UO School of Music and Dance in administering the series, hosted at Beall Concert Hall at 961 E. 18th Ave. The five remaining CM@B concerts include performances from the Russian String Orchestra (formerly Chamber Orchestra Kremlin) and the Dover Quartet featuring mandolinist Avi Avital. 

Tickets and more information can be found at http://music.uoregon.edu/cmb.