Chamber Music Concert at Nikolaihaus Berlin

Works by Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms

Dorian Xhoxhi (Violin)

Helena Madoka Berg (Violin)

Takehiro Konoe (Viola)

Christoph Heesch (Cello)

Programme:

Franz Schubert: Quartettsatz in C minor, D 703

As regrettable as it is that Schubert abandoned this brilliantly conceived quartet after completing only its first movement, this very circumstance has also made the Quartettsatz a popular opening piece for many string quartet concerts.

Johannes Brahms: String Quartet in C minor, Op. 51 No. 1

Johannes Brahms worked for many years on his first string quartet. Out of profound respect for the towering legacy of Beethoven, he discarded numerous drafts before finally publishing the definitive version in 1873. The Quartet in C minor combines passionate drama with masterful formal craftsmanship: restless and powerful outer movements frame an intimate Romanze and a contemplative Intermezzo. With its intricate motivic interplay and emotional depth, it ranks among the most significant chamber music works of the Romantic era.

Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet in F major, Op. 59 No. 1

With his three “Razumovsky Quartets”, Beethoven broke new ground in chamber music. The String Quartet in F major, Op. 59 No. 1, is remarkable for its symphonic dimensions, bold musical ideas and extraordinary expressive range. An expansive opening Allegro is followed by an introspective slow movement, a vigorous Scherzo and a radiant finale. The work represents a decisive step into Beethoven’s middle period and is regarded as a milestone in the string quartet repertoire.