In depth: Pavel Haas Quartet
On the program March 14:
Quartet No. 2, H. 150 Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959)
Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 34 (1945) Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897–1957)
Quartet in G Major, Op. 106 (1895) Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
At 20, the Pavel Haas the is youngest of the BBC’s “ten greatest string quartet ensembles of all time.” Equally, if not more remarkable, their first eight recordings have won six Gramophone awards, including Recording of the Year for Dvorak’s Op. 96 “American” and G Major, Op. 106 quartets. The latter, Dvorak’s penultimate work for string quartet, is featured on the PHQ’s March program, as part of our season-long Dvorak exploration.
Chamber music scholar Kai Christensen describes the G Major Quartet, “Op. 106 is an extraordinary work by any measure, even among his last five “great” quartets it is a distinctive high-water mark. Unmistakably Dvořák for its endearing lyricism, exciting rhythmic vitality, and the ingenious, transparent textures inseparable from its vibrant color, the singular quartet achieves a refined amalgam of his stylistic traits.”
Also on the March 14 program are:
· String Quartet No. 3 by Dvořák’s countryman Martinů, who emigrated to the U.S. in 1941 to escape the Nazis.
· String Quartet No. 3 by Austrian-American composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold, called a modern Mozart for far more than his middle name. Championed by Arthur Schnabel at 13, famous in Austria before 20, Korngold became a multiple Academy Award winning film score composer, which likely saved his life. In 1938, when Hitler invaded Austria, Korngold was in Hollywood, where he remained. He later returned to concert music for which he is now increasingly known.
Bohuslav Martinů wrote his first string quartet in 1918, when he was still living in Prague; his second in 1925, soon after he moved to Paris in 1923, permanently, as it turned out. His third and last quartet was written in 1929, when he was a established member of the Paris artistic community.
Erich Wolfgang Korngold was a musical prodigy in Austria. His piano trio was published when he was 12. His second piano sonata, written at 13, was performed internationally by Arthur Schnabel. Mahler and Richard Strauss suggested that he skip attending conservatory; he was too advanced. Prior to WWII, Korngold and Schoenberg were voted Austria’s’ most famous composers. A multiple Academy Award winner, Korngold was the first composer of international stature to create music for Hollywood films. His String Quartet No. 2 was written in 1933. Today he is recognized as one of America’s great composers.
Antonin Dvořák was a remarkable chamber composer in quality and output including 14 string quartets. Like Beethoven’s, his last five have become staples of the repertoire. No. 13, the last he began and with No. 14 one of his final two chamber works, is a compositional tour de force, featuring the key elements commonly identified with Dvořák’s music. It is performed on this program by Dvořáks fellow Czechs, the Pavel Haas Quartet.
Historical Note: On March 11, 2020, the PHQ were flying here from Salt Lake City for a March 12 Memorial Hall concert. Before arrival, Covid shut down all local concert venues. On March 12, they visited Walnut Hills High School, then spent the day at the Netherlands Hilton rebooking flights to Prague and their families before international travel became nearly impossible. Today, there are no such clouds on the horizon for this illustrious ensemble. (Fingers crossed.)
