Aris String Quartet: Beethoven Quartets

BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert

Beethoven at his most groundbreaking: the first ‘Razumovsky’ Quartet, and the daring, defiant ‘Serioso’.

This is the first in a series marking the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death and celebrating, in particular, his three Op 59 quartets composed in 1806. They were commissioned by Count Razumovsky, the Russian ambassador to Vienna, who asked Beethoven to include at least one Russian theme in each work. No 1 in F major astonished players and audience alike by its complexity and depth, as well as its sheer length. It is blazing with invention from expansive opening movement to dancing finale, which includes one of the Count’s requested ‘Thèmes Russe’. It is paired here with the sensational, short and sometimes strange ‘Serioso’ quartet written in 1810.

The sensational Aris Quartet are steeped in Beethoven’s works in his anniversary year and recently recorded the ‘Razumovsky’ set in the Count’s former palace in Vienna. Their free, communicative style is perfect for these vibrant and startling works.

Programme: Ludwig van Beethoven · String Quartet No 11 in F minor Op 95, ‘Serioso’ · String Quartet No 7 in F major Op 59 No 1, ‘Razumovsky’ — Aris String Quartet