Count Joseph Erdődy, who commissioned the quartets, maintained his own private string quartet even during the Napoleonic Wars.
Composition History
Haydn's Op. 76 string quartets were commissioned by Count Joseph Erdődy, the chancellor at the Hungarian court in Pressburg, for 100 ducats.
Recording & Production
The recording was made in January 2018 at Reitstadel, Neumarkt, Germany, with Andrew Keener as producer and Fabian Frank as sound engineer.
Interpretation
The Chiaroscuro Quartet performs Classical period music on gut strings, contributing to their unique sound.
Critical Reception
The Chiaroscuro Quartet's sound has been described by The Observer as 'a shock to the ears of the best kind'.
Performer Biography
The Chiaroscuro Quartet, formed in 2005, is an international ensemble with members from Russia, Spain, Sweden, and France.
Critical Reception
Charles Burney, a friend of Haydn, praised the Op. 76 quartets for their 'invention, fire, good taste and new effects,' stating he never received more pleasure from instrumental music.
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