One of the world’s greatest quartets in a programme where Leoš Janáček’s intimate Letters meet Haydn’s restrained elegance.
The Austrian Hagen Quartet first appeared on Deutsche Grammophon in the 1980s, when the entire quartet repertoire had to be redone for compact disc. The Hagen Quartet then achieved an unrivalled position among the finest ensembles of our time, being declared ‘the pinnacle of musicality’ (Die Presse). Recent recordings show that, after 40 years, they are still at the top.
Lettres intimes by Leoš Janáček is a marvellous declaration of tenderness from a composer at the end of his life. Haydn’s quartets, written in 1788, are part of the ‘Tost Quartets’, named after Johann Tost, a violinist in Esterházy’s orchestra. They reflect Haydn’s genius for structure and musical expression.
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Quartet in A Major op. 55/1
Quartet in B flat Major op. 55/3
Leoš Janáček (1854-1928)
Quartet n°2 Lettres intimes
Hagen Quartet
