Cal Performances audience favorite, the superlative Takács Quartet returns to Berkeley in two performances this season, welcoming the ensemble’s newest member, cellist Mihai Marica. In the fall, the stellar combination of pianist Jeremy Denk—winner of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship and the Avery Fisher Prize—and the Grammy-winning quartet promises music-making of unparalleled virtuosity and deep emotional intelligence. The program features a work by Berkeley native Gabriela Lena Frank—named Composer of the Year in 2026 by Musical America—that explores the extravagant delusions of Cervantes’ Don Quixote. And the Romantic composer César Franck’s searing and sensual Piano Quintet in F minor showcases Denk’s passionate side.
“What lingered most after the final chord was not just the refinement of the playing, but the sheer vitality the Takács Quartet continues to bring to the stage. They play not like a group looking back, but like musicians still in love with the act of discovery”—Seen and Heard International
Patron Sponsor: Carol T. Christ
| MENDELSSOHN | String Quartet in F minor, Op. 80 |
| GABRIELA LENA FRANK | Quijotadas |
| FRANCK | Piano Quintet in F minor |
Program notes will be available approximately one week before the performance.
3pm
There is a $20 service charge on all subscription orders, and a $15 per order service charge on ticket purchases made by phone or online that are not part of a subscription package. There is no fee for tickets purchased in person at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office unless they are part of a subscription.
2026–27 Season Guides
Some of you want your mind blown. Some want your heart broken. Some want to see a legend before they stop touring. Whatever brings you through those doors, we’ve built a guide for it. Explore the six patron guides below to find the performances that were made for you!
3pm
There is a $20 service charge on all subscription orders, and a $15 per order service charge on ticket purchases made by phone or online that are not part of a subscription package. There is no fee for tickets purchased in person at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office unless they are part of a subscription.
2026–27 Season Subscriptions go on sale noon May 5
Single tickets for 2026–27 Season events go on sale at noon Aug 11
