Mozart considered his "Haydn Quartets" to be the "fruits of long and arduous work," taking him three years to complete, an unusually long time for him.
Performer Biography
The Klenke Quartet, an ensemble of four women, has a twelve-year concert career, performing at high-profile German festivals and throughout Europe, North, and South America.
Critical Reception
Joseph Haydn, the dedicatee of Mozart's six quartets, praised them to Leopold Mozart, stating, "your son is the greatest composer I know in person or by name: he not only has good taste but the greatest compositional knowledge as well."
Critical Reception
Many of Mozart's contemporaries found the "Haydn Quartets" difficult, describing the music as "overseasoned," "difficult and unusual," and "bizarre" due to its bold harmonies.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mozart believed that even when expressing the most dreadful things, music should always please the ear and never insult it, maintaining that music must always be music.
Composition History
Mozart's six "Haydn Quartets" were inspired by Joseph Haydn's six "Russian" Quartets op. 33, which Mozart described as written in a "very new, special way."
Recording & Production
The Klenke Quartet's previous CDs in their Mozart quartet series received the Supersonic Award from the Luxembourg magazine "Pizzicato."
You might also enjoy...
Franz Joseph Haydn: Gewandhaus-Quartett
Mozart: Streichquartette 11-13
String Quartets K. 387 & 458 (Dedicated to Joseph Haydn)
Mozart: String Quartets
Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 64 "Tost Quartets"
Haydn: String Quartets, Op.76, Nos. 1, 2 & 3
Mozart: String Quartet, K. 465 "Dissonance"
Mozart String Quartets - Milanese Quartets K. 155-160 & K. 80
