By CatholicPhilly Staff • Posted May 13, 2025

Artcinia’s annual concert at the Cathedral Basilica celebrating the working relationship between the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Artcinia will bring performing arts experiences to diverse Philadelphia neighborhoods. This concert, taking place on June 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, promises an afternoon of rich, dynamic chamber music with a captivating performance featuring two masterful string quintets – – Giovanni Bottesini’s Gran Quintettos and Antonín Dvořák’s String Quintet Op. 77.

Giovanni Bottesini’s Gran Quintetto showcases the composer’s virtuosic writing, blending lyrical elegance with brilliant passages for the double bass. Its four movements move from a lively Allegro moderato to a spirited Finale, offering both drama and charm. Paired with Bottesini, Antonín Dvořák’s String Quintet Op. 77 highlights his signature blend of Bohemian folk melodies and Romantic intensity. From the fiery Allegro con fuoco to the soaring lyricism of the Poco Andante, this quintet is a testament to Dvořák’s gift for melody and orchestral textures within chamber music.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is located at 18^th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.