Framing the Invisible: LANO Quartet

Framing the Invisible: LANO Quartet

Shuwei Zuo violin
Yuwen Fan violin
Jinhe Huang viola
Gen Li cello

Caroline Shaw Plan & Elevation
Beethoven String Quartet No.7, 'Razumovsky'

Caroline Shaw’s Plan & Elevation is a modern musical portrait of the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. Inspired by architectural blueprints, Shaw weaves together ideas of space, geometry, and the shifting play of light and shadow, translating these visual and structural elements into sound.

Beethoven’s String Quartet No.7 in F major, Op.59, No.1 - written for the Russian ambassador Count Razumovsky - blends Russian folk melodies into a bold, expansive structure. It moves between triumphant, horn-like themes and moments of deep introspection, showing Beethoven’s ability to balance grandeur with emotional nuance.

Placing these two works side by side reveals a fascinating conversation: Shaw’s reimagining of structure in the 21st century meets Beethoven’s architectural vision of the classical quartet. Both explore how form can be shaped - and reshaped - in the search for expressive freedom.

Running time approx.55 minutes