Daniel Chong, violin | Ken Hamao, violin | Jessica Bodner, viola | Kee-Hyun Kim, cello
Beethoven String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat Major, Op. 74
- Beethoven composed the Opus 74 “Harp” Quartet in 1809 while hiding from Napoleon’s bombardment of Vienna.
- Despite wartime chaos, the quartet is surprisingly gentle and positive, marking a return from the three revolutionary Razumovsky quartets to a more conservative, traditional style.
- The third movement in C minor provides the only sustained turbulence, echoing the 4-note rhythmic motive of his Fifth Symphony.
- Both the 2nd movement (rondo) and the 4th movement (variations) feature positive, pleasing themes and variations suggesting hope amid chaos.
About
Parker Quartet
Internationally recognized for their “fearless, yet probingly beautiful” (The Strad) performances, the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet has distinguished itself as…
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“Now [Napoleon] will trample all human rights underfoot, and only pander to his own ambition!”
— Ludwig van Beethoven
