Haydn String Quartet in C op. 33 No. 3 Bird | Beethoven String Quartet in F op. 135 | Dvořák String Quartet op. 96 American

During Dvořák’s summer holiday in Iowa in 1893 he composed his string quartet in F, American, in just over two weeks. He aimed to make it especially simple and melodious and succeeded in creating what is possibly the best-loved work in the genre.

Beethoven wrote his last quartet a few months before his death. It has a darkly beautiful slow movement where, at one point, time seems to almost stand still. The finale begins with an ominous slow introduction entitled “the difficult decision”. Muss es sein? (Must it be?) The following Allegro answers the question – Es muss sein! In 1782 Haydn published his opus 33 set of six string quartets, announcing they were composed in a new and special way; No. 3 in C, Bird, is a joyful work ending with a finale based on a Slavonic dance tune.

Christ Church, West Didsbury, Manchester
Saturday 12 February 2022 7.30pm