This album was recorded live at the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., in 1982.
Critical Reception
Despite a counterpoint teacher dismissing one of the Opus 18 Quartets as 'trash,' many authorities consider Opus 18 a milestone in string quartet writing.
Composer Biography
Ludwig van Beethoven, at 22, moved from Bonn to Vienna in 1792 to study with Franz Joseph Haydn, a prominent composer.
Composition History
Beethoven worked on his Opus 18 string quartets, his first venture into the medium, from 1798 to 1800, completing the D Major quartet first.
Composition History
Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz, an ardent patron, was an early supporter of Beethoven and received dedications for works including the six Opus 18 Quartets.
Compositional Technique
The Opus 18 series shows the influence of Franz Joseph Haydn, a prominent composer, in its inventive themes, solemn slow movements, and use of distant keys.
Historical Context
Vienna, the capital of the Habsburg Empire, was a hub for string quartet composition and had an aristocracy keen on new music when Beethoven arrived.
