The St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ) was established in Toronto in 1989 and quickly gained acclaim at international chamber music competitions.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Joseph Haydn's Opus 20 quartets are described as encapsulating an entire world in each piece, effortlessly combining whimsy, pathos, expression, and counterpoint without showing off.
Performer Biography
The St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ) is known for its intense performances, broad repertoire, and commitment to intellectually exciting and emotionally alive concert experiences.
Performer Biography
The St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ) has been the ensemble-in-residence at Stanford University since 1998, directing the music department's chamber music program.
Performer Biography
The St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ) has a fruitful partnership with living composers like John Adams, Jonathan Berger, and Osvaldo Golijov, contributing to the quartet literature.
Compositional Technique
Haydn's Opus 20 quartets feature complex and interesting fugues with multiple subjects, each unique, demonstrating a 'democracy-in-action' with parts equally distributed among players.
Composition History
Haydn was 40 when he wrote Opus 20, having previously focused on symphonies and operas at the Esterháza court, which provided a rich education for his compositional development.
