Sydney Griller (violin) ; Jack O'Brien (violin); Philip Burton (viola);
Colin Hampton (violoncello)
DOROTHEA HELMRICH
(mezzo-soprano)
Nobody had much chance of patronising Beethoven—patronising, that is, in the sense of condescension. He was a proud, independent soul, fierily resentful of anything like patronage, yet he had many true patrons among the nobility-Princes and Counts who continually helped him, and at whose houses he was frequently a guest.
One of the chief among these was
Prince Razumovsky, the Russian Ambassador at Vienna during many years. This nobleman formed a String Quartet which he supported, and .;hich became famous. To him Beethoven, then in his prime, dedicated three of his finest String Quartets, of which this is one.
Frank Bridge has produced some of the finest of modem British chamber music. And not only the finest, but the most approachable. He can produce what Sir Walter Scott called ' the big bow-wow stuff ' with anyone, but he can also turn out charming miniatures like the pieces the Griller Quartet is playing tonight.