Haydn's Op. 50 quartets demonstrate an 'amazing economy' by developing almost all movements from a minimum of motivic cells, in contrast to Mozart's abundance of musical ideas.
Performer Biography
The Auryn Quartet has an exceptionally wide repertoire, having performed over 150 string quartets and around 100 chamber music works.
Compositional Technique
In his Op. 50 quartets, Haydn adopted a new seriousness, moving away from the 'pleasant divertimento' style, evident in the tendency towards extreme chromaticism.
Compositional Technique
The finale of the D major quartet (Op. 50 No. 6) uses a special effect called 'bariolage,' where the same note is rapidly alternated on different strings, earning it the nickname 'The Frog'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Haydn's Op. 50 quartets were a response to Mozart's 'Haydn quartets,' which Mozart had dedicated to Haydn after being inspired by Haydn's earlier Op. 33.
Composition History
Haydn's six string quartets, Op. 50, were dedicated to King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia and published in 1787.
Performer Biography
The Auryn Quartet, founded in 1981, has performed together for 27 years without any change in personnel, fostering a unique unity of interpretation.
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