SYBIL CRAWLEY (Soprano)
THE PHILHARMONIC STRING QUARTET:
Charles Bye (Violin); Norman Chappie (Violin); Horace Ayckbourn (Viola) ; Frank
Ford (Violoncello)
QUARTET
Quartet in C, Op. 18, No. 2 Beethoven
1. Allegro; 2. Adagio cantabile; 3. Scherzo ; 4. Allegro molto quasi presto
Beethoven realised very well that a String Quartet is no job for an inexperienced or immature composer, and when he was offered quite a generous foe, in 1795, to compose one for a wealthy patron, he declined on the ground that he was nut yet sufficiently master of his art; he was then twenty-five. It was only four years later, when his style was already maturing towards the great middle period, that he composed the six string quartets which, ns Opus 18, are dedicated to Prince Lobkowitz.
Slight in structure and design as compared with the noble quartets of his middle period and the great string quartets which were among the last things he wrote, these first six are full of melody, and all so clear in their form as to be easily followed and enjoyed.
, at 4.45