上邪 LOVE, EARTH, DEATH: Butterfly Lovers & Chinese Voices in Upper East Side

🎟️ Get Your Tickets Here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/session-aug-16love-earth-death-2026-almost-quintet-trio-concert-tour-new-york-city-copy

Wait, Love, Earth, and Death? On a Sunday Afternoon?

Yes! What better way to spend a golden Sunday afternoon in the Upper East Side than with deeply soulful, beautiful chamber music?

We are Almost Quintet (a chamber trio that is, with all the instruments we're able to play, almost a quintet.). For this special Sunday matinee, we are devoting our entire concert to the brilliant, evocative, and timeless works of Chinese composers.

🎼 What You’re In For (The Full Program):

On One Side of River 在水一方 by Qingjia Lin (b. 1934)

Song of the Steppe 敕勒歌 by Rama Liu (b. 1981)

Phoenix Hairpin 钗头凤 by Yi Zhou (1923-2019)

Three Chinese Love Song by Bright Sheng (b. 1955)

I. Blue Flower 蓝花花

II. At the Hillside Where Horses Are Running 跑马溜溜的山上

III. The Stream Flows Lyrics 小河淌水

Butterfly Lovers' Concerto 梁祝 by He Zhanhao (b. 1933) and Chen Gang (1935–2026)

Until Now by Kui Dong (b. 1966)

My Affection Awaits You 我的深情为你守候 by Kai Luan (b. 1973)

Notice "Until Now" by Kui Dong on the program? This piece is solely reserved for our Aug 16 show!

Inspired by the ancient philosophy of Zhuangzi’s Butterfly Dream (庄周梦蝶), this dreamlike piece serves as an exclusive preview for composer Kui Dong’s upcoming opera project. You literally won't be able to hear it anywhere else—well, until it hits the big opera houses and wins major awards!

Because in New York City, $15 barely buys you an iced matcha latte and a pastry. We think an hour of gorgeous, live Chinese chamber music in an intimate Upper East Side space should be just as accessible as your weekend coffee run.

No tuxedo required. No pretentious vibes. Come as you are.

Can't make it to this specific date? No worries, we’ve got you covered!

Almost Quintet is hosting four different concerts across NYC for this summer tour! Each concert features a slightly different program, so there’s always something new to experience.

Here is our full NYC schedule:

📅 AUG 13 | 7:30 PM

Music by Chinese Composers

Location: Music Pathway Studio NY

Address: 38 W 32nd St #1200, New York, NY 10001

🔴 AUG 14 | 7:30 PM (Ticketed Event)

Music by Black Composers and Chinese Composers

Location: St. John's in the Village

Address: 218 W 11th St, New York, NY 10014

📅 AUG 15 | 7:30 PM

Music by Black Composers and Chinese Composers

Location: Grace & St. Paul's Church

Address: 123 W 71st St, New York, NY 10023

🔴 AUG 16 | 3:00 PM (Ticketed Event)

Music by Chinese Composers

Location: Hungarian House

Address: 213 E 82nd St, New York, NY 10028

✨ Special Program Highlights:

• Aug 14 Special: Cutting Contest is performed exclusively at our Aug 14 ticketed show! Our pianist and organist Peiyao Yu poured so much effort into arranging it. It’s an absolute blast—so rhythmically infectious that you can literally tap your feet, dance, or drum along in your seat!
• Aug 16 Special: Until Now will be performed exclusively at our Aug 16 ticketed show!

Grab a friend, pick your date, and let’s make this week unforgettable!