Haydn and the String Quartet

Joseph Haydn

Joseph Haydn

2009 marked 200 years since the death of Joseph Haydn, a composer who changed the course of Western classical music through his “invention” of the string quartet. For its annual series tour the New Zealand String Quartet prepared two special programmes of discovery and celebration to honour a composer who brought new heights of expression and individuality to chamber music.

Programme one – Haydn Discovery

This innovative programme is a unique tribute to Haydn the adventurer – a musical journey of discovery through his long creative life, illustrated by excerpts from his string quartets from Opus 1 to Opus 103 and scripted readings illuminating his life and creative process.

What the critics said:

Twenty Haydn movements …were elegantly punctuated by illuminating comments from the composer, his contemporaries and the writers of the time.

William Dart, The NZ Herald

..brilliantly researched” and “an outstanding spoken and performance resumé of the composer’s life and string quartet music, completely entrancing the capacity audience.

Peter Williams, Hawkes Bay Today

…[the Quartet’s playing was] consistently characterful and engaging” and “their story-telling and detailing in words and music [exerted] an ever-increasing fascination throughout the evening.

Peter Mechen, Middle C

Programme two – Haydn Celebration

For this programme the Quartet has selected four of Haydn’s greatest and most beloved string quartets from different periods in his life, showing the variety and expressive power he brought to the medium.

  • Quartet in D Major Opus 64 No 5, “The Lark”
  • Quartet in G Minor Opus 74 No 3 “The Rider”
  • Quartet in F Minor Opus 20 No 5
  • Quartet in G Major Opus 77 No 1 “Compliments”

What the critics said:

…stunningly beautiful…intelligent interpretation [and] compelling sense of togetherness.

Ruth Allison, Nelson Mail

…overall superb quality that earned total admiration from appreciative listeners.

Peter Williams, Hawkes Bay Today

…vital intelligence…crisp excellence…

Marian Poole, Otago Daily Times