Last term’s course on Haydn’s String Quartets pointed inevitably to a follow-up study of Beethoven’s chamber music. I have chosen works from his ‘middle period’, the first decade of the nineteenth century, and the progression from the works of his teacher, Haydn, is astonishing. Over two Thursday mornings in February we shall consider the three string quartets commissioned by Count Rasumovsky and published as Opus 59, plus his last and greatest piano trio, Opus 97 in B flat. This was dedicated to his pupil, friend and patron Archduke Rudolph, and usually bears his title. The course will be repeated on Mondays in March.
The quartets were described as ‘profound’ and ‘not easily comprehended’ at the time. Both descriptions are still valid today, but the rewards of studying them are immense, and to discuss them with a group of music-lovers is the best way to appreciate their grandeur and their beauty.
Full details and booking arrangements can be found here: https://mancent.org.uk/?page_id=6540
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