Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 135 & Jeff Scott World Premiere

We return to the vaulted stillness of the Green-Wood Catacombs for the final completed string quartet of Beethoven—the luminous and enigmatic String Quartet in F major, Op. 135.

Composed just months before his death, Op. 135 stands apart from Beethoven's other late quartets. Where some rage against fate or reach toward the infinite, this final work feels like a resolute whisper – intimate, questioning, and unexpectedly serene. Beethoven inscribed the opening of the final movement with an enigmatic statement: “Must it be? It must be.” In these final pages, Beethoven doesn't shout into the abyss; instead, he embraces and converses with it.

In a powerful counterpoint, Beethoven's Op. 135 is paired with the world premiere of Jeff Scott’s Tapestry of the Beloved Beatified, a ritual of remembrance honoring the activists Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk, Sylvia Rivera, and Jeanne Manford. Too often marginalized by history, their lives rise here not as symbols of struggle, but as radiant, deeply human presences—defiant, compassionate, and enduring. Scott’s score unfolds through shifting textures of chant, whispered testimony, and expanding polyphony, at moments breaking into speech-like utterance, as if memory itself were finding its voice.

Performing this singular program is the Poiesis Quartet, named one of The New York Times’ Performances of the Year in 2025. Praised for their precision, warmth, and fearless programming, Poiesis has established itself as one of the most compelling young ensembles on today’s stage, and we're honored to bring their elemental, urgent music-making to the intimacy of the Catacombs.

Are you a member? Email [email protected] to get the member discount code for this program.

Before Purchasing Tickets, Please Note:

• Attendees must follow all instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.
• Where To Go: Check-in begins 15 minutes before your ticketed start time and ONLY takes place at the Gothic Arch near the Main Entrance on Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street). There are no paper or e-tickets! Attendees will be checked in by name.
• Food and Drinks: We will start with a 45-minute reception at the Modern Chapel to enjoy a tasting of cocktails by Via Carota and snacks (all free!), and the beauty of the Cemetery, before the program begins. Tasting is for those 21 years of age or older with proof of ID.
• Early Evening Performance (6pm): Arrive for check-in at the Gothic Arch no later than 6:45pm.
• Twilight Performance (7:30pm): Arrive for check-in at the Gothic Arch no later than 8:15pm.
• Accessibility & Safety: Please note that the Catacombs are a historic structure and not ADA-compliant. Access requires ascending and descending stairs. We strongly encourage attendees to dress for the conditions of the Catacombs, which can be cooler than the outdoor temperature.
• A Little More About Accessibility & Safety: Attendees may travel to the Catacombs on foot or by trolley. The walk takes about 20-30 minutes, and includes hilly and uneven terrain. Proper footwear and flashlights are strongly recommended. The Green-Wood trolley is ADA-compliant, but the Catacombs are not. If you have any questions or concerns regarding disability-related accommodations for this program, please call (718) 768-7300 or email [email protected].
• Ticket sales are final. No exchanges or refunds unless the event is canceled.

Photo Credit: Death of Classical

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Host or Publisher The Green-Wood Historic Fund