After more than four decades as a member of the prestigious and beloved Emerson String Quartet, violinist Eugene Drucker is on his own.
Well, not really, since he’ll still be teaching and working alongside the multiple-Grammy-winning quartet’s three other alums at Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York.
But really, since Drucker is set to give his first public concert following the Emerson String Quartet’s farewell tour ended in October. He will be the featured violinist at the Poway Symphony Orchestra’s season-opener next Sunday.
Violinist Eugene Drucker is a founding member of the Emerson String Quartet.
(Courtesy of Marie Mazzicco)
“I’m trying to redefine who I am, to some extent, because my musical identity was not exclusively — but largely — wrapped up in being a founder and continuing member of the Emerson String Quartet,” said Drucker, speaking from upstate New York. “So, I still can’t quite wrap my head around it.”
At the same time, he stressed in a wide-ranging, hourlong interview, that the Emerson’s October farewell at Lincoln Center was “the very last concert that my quartet will ever play in public.
“People asked us: ‘Would you reconsider, or would you want to make a comeback tour a year later’?” he recalled, adding: “You mean, like the way some pop groups do?
“We didn’t want to overstay our welcome. We wanted to stop when we could justifiably say: ‘It may not be at our absolute summit, but at least very close to it’.”
Members of the Emerson String Quartet, which just completed its farewell tour in Octoberfrom left, violinist Philip Setzer, left, cellist Paul Watkins, violist Lawrence Dutton and violinist Eugene Drucker.
(Courtesy of Lisa-Marie Mazzucco)
Drucker and fellow violinist Philip Setzer co-founded the quartet in 1976 while students at New York’s Juilliard School. Violist Lawrence Dutton joined in 1977, and cellist Paul Watkins in 2013.
The quartet released more than 30 albums and has earned 13 Grammy nominations, winning nine. Its collaborators range from sopranos Renée Fleming and Barbara Hannigan to pianists Emanuel Ax and Yefim Bronfman.
As the New York Times noted, the Emerson String Quartet was never just a string quartet, but rather “an establishment, a touchstone, a catalyst. Entire generations of listeners grew up with its recordings ….”
Before attending Columbia University and Juilliard, New York native Drucker attended what is now known as LaGuardia High School of Music, Art & Performing Arts. He was schoolmates with John LoPiccolo, music director of the Poway Symphony Orchestra, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Music director John LoPiccolo, foreground, and the Poway Symphony Orchestra, photographed in March 2023.
(Courtesy of Mike Chapin)
Though the two musicians hadn’t kept in touch, LoPiccolo followed Drucker’s career. When the Emerson String Quartet announced its farewell, LoPiccolo invited him to play in Poway.
“I recognized, even back in high school, that Eugene was a very special person,” LoPiccolo said. “His persona and aura are overwhelming. The orchestra is excited for him to come. You can sense the electricity.”
Drucker will perform Bruch’s Concerto in G minor, No. 1 and Beethoven’s Romance in F Major, No. 2 at the Nov. 19 concert.
“Bruch’s concerto has been an audience favorite,” he said. “It’s popular for good reason — It has unforgettable melodies.
“Romance is more the classical side of Beethoven, not his trailblazing, boundary-smashing side. It’s a gorgeous work and has a very soulful, slow movement.”
Drucker, 71, started playing violin when he was 8-1/2 years old. Five years later, he began studying with acclaimed violinist Oscar Shumsky. With Shumsky’s help, Drucker — then 16 — entered the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s fellowship program at the famed Tanglewood Music Center.
While a student at Juilliard, Drucker was appointed concertmaster and appeared as a soloist several times. But the creation of the Emerson String Quartet largely determined his musical future for the next 40 years.
Along with its stellar reputation for excellence, the quartet was known for its sense of humor and camaraderie, which most likely contributed to its longevity. Was it the structure of the ensemble, or were they all just nice guys?
“I think it’s more the latter,” Drucker answered, with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t claim any of us is consistently or uniformly a nice guy! For the most part, we were. But we didn’t have a structure at all. None of us had a vision of how far this journey was going to take us.
“It was just a natural direction that our lives took together. And it took patience, discipline and a sense of humor.”
During his years with Emerson, Drucker recorded several non-quartet albums. He also appeared as solo violinist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the American Symphony Orchestra and others.
Drucker has set to music Shakespearean texts as well as poems by the late Denise Levertov. He has also published two novels and wrote a third during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is shopping it around for a publisher.
“If I have an idea that engrosses me enough to tackle the hard work involved in producing a piece of fiction, I’ll do it,” Drucker said.
After the Poway performance, Drucker will focus on his role as music director of the Berkshire Bach Society, which annually produces three holiday concerts. His wife, cellist Rebecca Cooper, is also in the ensemble.
In March, Drucker will play Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra.
Although The Emerson String Quartet won’t perform again, it will continue to be seen and heard. In September, the quartet released its final album, “Infinite Voyage,” with longtime collaborator, soprano Hannigan. And a film documentary about the quartet is in the works.
“I used to feel uncomfortable with the word ‘legacy’,” Drucker said. “I used to put air quotes around it. But now I feel less uncomfortable when other people use that word about us.”
Poway Symphony Orchestra with violinist Eugene Drucker
When: 4 p.m. Nov. 19
Where: Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road, Poway
Tickets: $15-$45
Phone: (858) 748-0505
Online: powaysymphonyorchestra.org
Wood is a freelance writer.