OPO String Quartet

Beethoven String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18
Beethoven String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 18
Beethoven String Quartet No. 7 in F major, Op. 59 No. 1, ‘Razumovsky’

String Fellows of the OPO

Beethoven's first set of string quartets were composed between 1798 and 1800. At this point, the composer was in his late twenties, and the quartets drew on the Viennese tradition of Haydn and Mozart. Nonetheless, the young composer's distinct voice is present in sudden contrasts and driving rhythms, offering glimpses of his boldness. Some years later, Beethoven would compose the more radical 'Razumovsky' quartets, deviating from convention in length, structure and organisation to present sweeping emotional range. This concert showcases elements from each of these collections, String Quartet Nos 4, 6 and 7, performed by four of the Orchestra's rising stars.