Schumann Quartett: Early Haydn (& Winkelman)
Erik Schumann violin, Ken Schumann violin, Liisa Randalu viola, Mark Schumann cello.
It is said that only when you can make a joke in a foreign language, you have truly mastered it. If so, Haydn’s Thirtieth String Quartet is the ultimate proof that he mastered composing. The quartet was nicknamed “the joke” because at the end Haydn plays with the expectations of his audience, who in response would burst out laughing again and again. Together with this Haydn quartet, the Quatuor Kitgut plays an early quartet by Schubert and a short piece by Albrechtsberger, contemporary of Haydn and teacher of Beethoven.
The Early Haydn is like the first cup of coffee of the day. Haydn’s playful music transports you to 18th-century Vienna: wigs, ball gowns, golden halls… But Haydn also stimulates the intellect. The ease with which he allowed the four voices of the string quartet to converse with each other was innovative. Around 1781 he surprised his audience time and time again, now we mostly hear the brilliant foundation he laid single-handedly for the string quartet that followed for almost 250 years.
See all events for String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam in BIMHUIS 2022 here.