The group kicked off the session with a live performance of the finale from Dvorak's "American" String Quartet, a staple of the chamber-music repertoire that sounded fresh in this young group's hands.

NPR: Opening Day With The Escher String Quartet

Buoyed by Obama, Quartet representatives and American and European officials have beaten a steady path to Netanyahu's door over the past several weeks.

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Host Mark Ruffin of Sirius XM recalled the dignity displayed by the African-American bassist as the Brubeck quartet challenged racial segregation in the 1950s.

WSJ: Family and friends celebrate Dave Brubeck's life

Klitschko's most recent defense of his quartet of titles came against American Tony Thompson in Switzerland two weeks ago, when the Ukrainian stopped his 40-year-old opponent in the sixth round.

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The Georgetown University English graduate was a story consultant on the 2009 documentary "American Harmony, " about competitive barbershop quartet singing, and produced the recent Discovery Channel program "Under Siege, " about terrorism and smuggling across the U.S.-Canada border as well the History Channel series "Madhouse, " on modified race-car drivers in North Carolina.

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