PREVIEW NOTES

Quatuor Ebène Wednesday, February 19 – 8:00 PM Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center

Program Quartet in F Minor, Op. 20, No. 5 Quartet in A Major, Op. 41, No. 3 Franz Joseph Haydn Robert Schumann Born: March 31, 1732, in Rohrau, Austria Born: June 8, 1810 in Zwickau, Germany Died: May 31, 1809, in Vienna, Austria Died: July 29, 1856 in Endenich, Germany Composed: 1772 Composed: 1842 Last PCMS performance: Mendelssohn Quartet, 2008 Last PCMS performance: Leipzig Quartet, 2013 Duration: 22 minutes Duration: 30 minutes

The six quartets that make up Haydn’s Opus 20 show Last in opus number but second in order of composition, the composer’s urge to change his style of quartet Schumann’s Quartet in A Major, Op. 41, No. 3 is far and writing. Fugues make their first appearance in three of away the most structurally traditional work of the the works, and Haydn makes use of minor keys twice in group. The very first gesture of the first movement's the set. Compositionally, the works are freer in form introduction is identical to the opening gesture of and development, while the cello takes on more of a Beethoven's Op. 31, No. 3, and one must suspect a soloistic role. The first movement is tragic, in the rare conscious or subconscious debt on Schumann's part. minor‐key color. Haydn commands the full resources of The second movement is based on variations, but oddly his instruments with freedom and authority. As the the true theme of the movement occurs after three movement comes to a close, the music sinks in volume variations have been presented. The third movement is only to gather itself for a quiet two note conclusion. The a blossoming song without words, growing from quiet second movement continues the melancholy mood of statement to passionate exclamations before drawing to the first movement, and this is only broken up in the trio a comfortable, peaceful end. The finale, on the other when the composer shifts to F Major. In the third hand, is a rather free rondo whose dotted‐eighth refrain movement Haydn embellishes a majestic theme with theme lurches forward with good humor. almost reckless abundance. Beautiful and pastoral, Haydn’s instructions –per figuram retardationis – mean Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80 that the figures are to be held back, or shifted at the will Felix Mendelssohn‐Bartholdy of the performer, so that they are in and out of focus Born: February 3, 1809 in Hamburg, Germany with the supporting harmonies. The fugue appears for Died: November 4, 1847 in Leipzig, Germany the second time in Haydn’s quartets as the finale of No. Composed: 1847 5. Consisting of two subjects, the lively fugue ends much Last PCMS performance: Artemis Quartet, 2013 like the first movement with a brief two note Duration: 27 minutes conclusion. Mendelssohn’s last great work, the Quartet in F Minor was written in response to the death of his beloved sister Fanny. Completed two months before his death, the work has a noticeable darker, seemingly tragic tone. The lively accompaniment that Mendelssohn is known for is replaced by slow, heavy syncopations that are filled with grief. Overflowing with turbulent emotion, it is a rare work of visceral intensity from a famously reserved artist.