The Calidore String Quartet undertakes the epic artistic project of performing Beethoven’s entire quartet cycle. These concerts are sold out in person, but Livestream tickets are still available. Livestreams begin at the time of the performance and can be watched for one week. The performances are preceded by “Inside the Quartets” talks by renowned cellist David Finckel, tickets for which are available here: https://musicatmenlo.org/festival/inside-the-quartets
Beethoven’s three Razumovsky quartets were composed for the Russian ambassador to Vienna. These works moved the genre to a new level, testing the virtuosity and stamina of any string quartet. The pieces were composed in the same heroic spirit as Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, and as a gesture to Andrey Razumovsky, who commissioned the works, Beethoven incorporated Russian-themed music into all three.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: THE RAZUMOVSKY QUARTETS
String Quartet in F major, op. 59, no. 1, Razumovsky
String Quartet in E minor, op. 59, no. 2, Razumovsky
String Quartet in C major, op. 59, no. 3, Razumovsky