Beethoven's Op. 95 quartet, written during a troubled time, exemplifies his belief in music's power to overcome fate through concentrated willpower.
Composer Biography
Beethoven's deafness, a naturally fatal ailment for a musician, was likely caused by regular consumption of poor-quality Hungarian wine containing lead.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Beethoven believed that music meant to touch the heart must come from above, otherwise it is merely 'notes - bodies without souls'.
Recording & Production
This album features live public recordings made in the Auditorium of the Musée d'Orsay in Paris across several dates in March and April 2008.
Composition History
Beethoven's middle period quartets, including the three Op. 59 'Razumovsky' Quartets, Op. 74, and Op. 95, were composed between 1806 and 1810.
Composer Biography
Beethoven's late period of string quartet composition, which Romain Rolland called a 'song of resurrection', saw him write almost exclusively quartets, often starting a new one before finishing the previous.
Interpretation
The Quatuor Ysaÿe's approach to Beethoven emphasizes unity of expression over homogeneity of sound, a characteristic they describe as 'Latin'.
