By John Schaefer

Known for their extreme performances, The Pacifica Quartet played all six of Elliott Carters gruelingly difficult string quartets in a single evening last year. Now, the quartet is taking on a feat of a different kind: a residency at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a prestigious post held for 43 years by the legendary Guarneri String Quartet. In advance of their first performance, the Grammy winning group performs live in the studio of WNYC's Soundcheck.