Groupmuse 224th-time host

Alexandria's Lyceum has had a colorful history. The masterpiece of Greek revival architecture was built in 1839 and had its first life as Alexandria's library (not to be confused with The Library of Alexandria, though the comparison beckons...). 25 years later, it served as a hospital during the Civil War. In the 1960's, it joined the National Register of Historic Places and since then, has been the city history museum of Alexandria. Well, we're so proud to say we're about to add another chapter to that storied life: The Lyceum will be home for our next Massivemuse!

The terrific ensemble Kassia Music - built of a string quartet, and clarinet, and a piano - are putting together a blend of old music and new for the occasion to Massive in the grand style.

The program includes a piece written by the group's pianist Sam Post called "Sketches from Kazakhstan" -- it was a San Francisco Symphony string quartet commission that was so beloved the Symphony brought it back last year for chamber orchestra.

The program will be anchored in two classics by Sergei Prokofiev, one of the great geniuses of classical modernism (a term as oxymoronic as old news) -- his meltingly beautiful Overture on Hebrew Themes, written for the whole ensemble, and his blistering 2nd string quartet.

Tickets are $20, it's BYOB, and we can't wait to see you there!