Egon Wellesz's Fifth String Quartet, composed in 1943, was the first piece he wrote after five years of compositional silence, serving as a work of mourning for the loss of his home.
Historical Context
Before 1938, Egon Wellesz was considered one of the most important contemporary composers, with his works for music and dance theatre frequently performed on major German-speaking stages.
Composer's Artistic Vision
In his Seventh String Quartet, Egon Wellesz consciously moved away from the musical avant-garde, emphasizing the cultivation of Austrian tradition and tonality, and rejecting experimentation.
Performer Biography
The aron quartett, founded in 1998 by four Viennese musicians, has been profoundly influenced by members of the Alban Berg Quartet and other notable musicians like Isaac Stern and Mischa Maisky.
Critical Reception
Despite receiving numerous national and international honors after 1945, including being appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, Egon Wellesz was never reinstated to his professional functions in Vienna.
Composer Biography
Egon Wellesz, the composer, was one of Arnold Schoenberg's first private students, though he left Schoenberg's strict teaching after less than two years.
Composer Biography
Egon Wellesz was forced into exile in 1938, as he was Jewish, a monarchist, and a composer of 'degenerate music,' leading to his dismissal from posts and a police search.
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