The Quatuor Van Kuijk won First Prize at the International String Quartet Competition at Wigmore Hall, London, in 2015, also receiving the Haydn and Beethoven prizes.
Historical Context
In 1782, Mozart broke from Salzburg to become a freelance musician in Vienna, where he discovered the music of both Haydn and J.S. Bach.
Performer Biography
The Quatuor Van Kuijk, a French quartet, was founded in 2012 and was selected for the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Scheme from 2015 to 2017.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mozart's discovery of J.S. Bach's counterpoint, with its equal, independent voices, was crucial, leading to works like The Marriage of Figaro where characters like Susanna and the Countess hold equal importance.
Composition History
The six quartets Mozart dedicated to Haydn were composed without commission between December 1782 and January 1785, and are considered works of gratitude.
Composer Biography
In 1772, at age 16, Mozart was deeply influenced by opera, having already composed all the recitatives for his opera seria, Lucio Silla, before arriving in Milan.
Composition History
Mozart dedicated six of his string quartets, including two on this album (K. 428 and K. 465), to his "dear friend Haydn."
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