The Pleyel Quartet Cologne's recording of August Klughardt's First String Quartet and Piano Quintet received the German Record Critics' Award.
Historical Context
Ignaz Pleyel, the composer, was the first to dedicate a series of string quartets to Friedrich Wilhelm II, the new music-loving King of Prussia, upon his ascension to the throne in 1786.
Performer Biography
The Pleyel Quartet Cologne aims to bring largely unknown chamber music from the classical era into context with works by more famous composers.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Pleyel's compositional style, compared to his teacher Haydn, emphasized new melodies rather than thematic and motivic development.
Interpretation
The Pleyel Quartet Cologne achieves a warm, radiant sound by using gut strings and subtle vibrato, reflecting their focus on period performance practice.
Composer Biography
Ignaz Pleyel was in an extraordinarily productive phase of his career when he composed these quartets, writing 24 string quartets in 1786 alone.
Critical Reception
Pleyel's music was highly popular, with 99 known performances of his quartets in London between 1786 and 1799, surpassing his teacher Haydn's 37 performances.
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