Beethoven: String Quartet No 15 Op 132
Beethoven’s late period saw a troubled, unwell, deaf man who knew his life was running out writing music of extraordinary intensity, innovation, and profundity. After his vast ninth symphony, premiered in 1824, Beethoven turned almost solely to string quartets in his last years. These late quartets were roundly dismissed by the audience of the day: composer Louis Spohr called them “indecipherable, uncorrected horrors”. And yet this music has had a deep effect on generations since, and is today held to be some of the greatest art of all time.
Opus 132 is particularly moving for its journey through depression and illness to healing and hope in its Song of Thanksgiving, or Heiliger Dankgesang. To perform this deeply philosophical work, we bring together four exceptional chamber musicians:
Jamie Campbell, Violin I
Alessandro Ruisi, Violin II
Kasia Ziminska, Viola
Nathaniel Boyd, Cello
The performance lasts approximately 45 minutes.
This concert is generously supported by Jan and Daniel Toledano