Hagen Quartett © Harald Hoffmann
Hagen Quartett
Wednesday
21
June
2023
19:30 – ca. 21:30
Mozart-Saal
Performers
Hagen Quartett
Lukas Hagen, Violine
Rainer Schmidt, Violine
Veronika Hagen, Viola
Clemens Hagen, Violoncello
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Streichquartett D-Dur K 575 »Veilchen-Quartett« (1789)
Streichquartett B-Dur K 589 (1790)
***
Streichquartett F-Dur K 590 (1790)
Subscription series
Hagen Quartett
Festival
40. Internationales Musikfest
Presented by
Wiener Konzerthausgesellschaft
Mozart's last quartets
Mozart originally intended to dedicate his string quartets K 575, K 589 and K 590, written in 1789-90, to the Prussian King Frederick William II, whom he met in the spring of 1789 during a trip to Berlin and Potsdam. However, his precarious financial situation forced him to leave them to the publishing house Artaria in the summer of 1790. Frederick William II played the violoncello and was a passionate patron of chamber music. The low string instrument accordingly occupies a central position in the works later known as the »Prussian Quartets«. In addition, Mozart's last string quartets are characterized by flowing melodicism, virtuoso figurations, and artful polyphony. They attest to the composer's outstanding achievement and demand the highest technical playing skills, which puts them in proven hands with the Hagen Quartet.