Hagen Quartet

Jörg Widmann, clarinet

Beethoven String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132
Brahms Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115

Inspiration comes in all forms. In 1822, Beethoven was compelled to ‘name his fee’ for three quartets commissioned by amateur cellist Prince Nicholas Galitzin. The resultant flourish produced one of the most transcendent bodies of work in all Western music including the Opus 132 in A minor with its rapturous adagio, a ‘sacred song of thanks from one made well’. If the impetus for Beethoven’s twilight creativity was fiscal, then for Brahms it was sheer musical virtuosity. On hearing the dazzling clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld, the world-weary composer was stirred to compose four new works for the instrument, including his chamber masterpiece, the ‘autumnal’ Quintet for Clarinet and Strings.

Comprised of three Hagen siblings – Lukas, Clemens and Veronika – plus Rainer Schmidt, the Salzburg-based Hagen Quartet is regarded as one of the foremost chamber ensembles of our era. Join them for an afternoon of exquisite chamber music.