When violinist Felix Radicati questioned if Beethoven's Op. 59 quartets were truly music, Beethoven reportedly replied, "Oh, at any rate, they are not for you, but for a later age."
Critical Reception
Beethoven's contemporaries were initially confused by his Op. 59 quartets, with the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung calling them "not easily comprehended."
Performer Biography
The Armida Quartet, founded in 2006, is named after an opera by Joseph Haydn, who is known as the "father of the string quartet."
Composer Biography
Shostakovich composed his 10th String Quartet in 1964 in a relaxed atmosphere at a composers' retreat in Dilijan, Armenia, during a peak in his career.
Performer Biography
The Armida Quartet achieved significant success at the 2012 ARD International Competition, winning first prize, the audience prize, and six other special awards.
Composition History
Beethoven's String Quartet in F Major, Op. 59 No. 1, was commissioned by Count Andrey Razumovsky, the Russian ambassador in Vienna, who was also a violinist.
Interpretation
The Armida Quartet, influenced by early music specialist Reinhard Goebel, focuses on the bow (right hand) to "pronounce the words" and achieve clarity in their interpretations.
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