Opus13

»Papa Haydn«? Of course, »yes« – but an even louder »NO!« There is absolutely nothing dusty or old-fashioned about Haydn’s music, despite the image that still clings to him. Few composers have woven humour into their music so frequently, whether subtly concealed or openly displayed. Written in 1799, String Quartet Op. 77 No. 1 is one of Haydn’s last completed quartets, the culmination of a long creative journey during which he decisively shaped the string quartet as a genre – hence his title, the »father of the string quartet«. Here Haydn is at the height of his powers, combining clarity, elegance and wit with imagination and subtle sophistication. Any kind of compositional frippery is nowhere to be found.

See full details →