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Details
Musical Museum
399 High Street
Brentford
London
TW8 0DU
England
Programme
Ludwig van Beethoven – String Quartet in D major, Op.18 no.3
Joaquín Turina – La Oración del torero, Op.34
~ Interval ~
Franz Schubert – String Quartet no.14 in D minor 'Death and the Maiden', D.810
Performers
Elvina Auh – Violin
Nic Hughes – viola
Silvestrs Kalnins – Cello
Akiko Ono – violin / director
Other concerts in this Series (+)
Programme Note
BEETHOVEN
The 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth is celebrated next year and over a four year period Maiastra concerts are featuring all of his sixteen string quartets, performed in the order in which they were published. The String Quartet in D major, Op. 18, No. 3 was published in 1801 and dedicated to Joseph Franz von Lobkowitz, a leading patron of Beethoven. It is one of the gentlest of Beethoven's earlier works, with a beautiful opening that continues with subtle control of movement. A change in pace is reserved for the finale, in a fast six-eight time, where Beethoven generates vigorous polyphony in the overwhelmingly energetic development.
TURINA
La Oración del torero, Op. 34 (‘The bullfighter’s prayer’), is an example of the influence of folk music in Turina’s compositions. It was originally composed in 1925 for a laúd (modern folk lute) quartet, the laúd being a Spanish folkloric instrument similar to a mandolin. Turina’s inspiration for this colourful composition came during an afternoon near Madrid when he saw the toreadors gathering together before entering the bullring.
SCHUBERT
Schubert's String Quartet in D minor brings together two of the composer's extraordinary talents: a natural instinct for melody and song. The quartet was written in 1824 when his health was a cause for concern, and is a reflection of Schubert’s state of mind. It is filled with resignation, and an all-pervading anguish and yearning. Schubert creates a pattern in which the dark and powerful opening is met by the soft lyrical reply of the maiden.
