Hagen Quartett © Harald Hoffmann
Hagen Quartett
Thursday
16
May
2024
19:30
Mozart-Saal
Performers
Hagen Quartett
Lukas Hagen, Violine
Rainer Schmidt, Violine
Veronika Hagen, Viola
Clemens Hagen, Violoncello
Programme
Joseph Haydn
Streichquartett C-Dur Hob. III/77 »Kaiserquartett« (1797)
Béla Bartók
Streichquartett Nr. 2 Sz 67 (1915–1917)
***
Ludwig van Beethoven
Streichquartett a-moll op. 132 (1824–1825)
Subscription series
Hagen Quartett
Presented by
Wiener Konzerthausgesellschaft
Full of feeling
The String Quartet in C major Hob. III/77 is one of the last and most mature quartet compositions by Joseph Haydn, who is considered the founder of the genre. It was nicknamed the »Emperor Quartet« because of the treatment of his hymn »Gott erhalte Franz, den Kaiser«, which he himself held in high esteem, in four variations of the 2nd movement. The quartet in A minor op. 132 is one of Beethoven's mature quartets, which developed the genre further in a dialogue with Haydn and Mozart. It was written when Beethoven had found new creative strength after a period of crisis in 1825 and is one of his most emotional compositions ever - which is illustrated not least by his playing instructions »Neue Kraft fühlend« and »Mit innigster Empfindung« in the 3rd movement. Béla Bartók composed his String Quartet No. 2, which, like his other quartets, is one of the most important of the 20th century, during the First World War, an emotionally stressful time for him. It is characterized by a three-movement symmetrical structure whose symmetry is essentially based on the expressive characters of the movements. Zoltán Kodály described these as »Calm Life«, »Joy« and »Sorrow«.