The “Seven Last Words Project” aims to promote the performance of Joseph Haydn’s “The Seven Last Words of our Savior on the Cross” at the time of Lent and Holy Week in churches across Southern California, and reach as many people as possible with this work. We started with four (4) churches with one quartet at Holy Week 2026. Our goal is to be in twelve (12) churches, with three (3) quartets for Holy Week 2027.

In many ways, this work epitomizes the path to accessibility to chamber music that we believe is missing today. A path that is neither dumbed down nor elitist, just human, as is explained in the three posts at the links below. Holy Week is also a time of the year when audiences are in a good disposition to grasp the meaning beyond the music. Of course, christians see the Paschal Mystery. But, as we experienced in our 2026 performances of the “Seven Last Words”, non-believers also “see” that the art of music is reaching beyond the physicality of the sound. Both may be right… Believers and non-believers are united in the journey of active listening. They have a common, essentially human, musical experience of time.

Yet, such miracle requires only four (4) string players. A quartet. Our four performances in 2026 showed how movingly powerful a string quartet can be.

More to come… Check this page soon, or contact us by emailing upcloseandclassical@gmail.com or calling Hervé at 626-278 0786 for inquiries.

Below are videos of the Monday 3/30/26 and Friday 4/3/26 concerts:

Thank you!!