of the string quartet. My name is Arnold Steinhardt,
and I will be joined
by Mia Chung and the Aizuri Quartet, to take you on a remarkable journey covering
almost 300 years
of string quartet music and the musicians who have performed it.
Along the way, you will experience the astonishing variety and emotional impact
of music inspired by two violins, a viola,
and a cello. The journey will extend
from the very first string quartets ever written
all the way to what is being written now. And then, it will take a
dizzying leap into what the future might hold.
You will listen to the inspirational creations of some of the world’s
greatest composers. For example,
the astonishing invention and humor of Joseph Haydn,
the otherworldly beauty of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
the daring of Ludwig van Beethoven,
the aching poignancy of Franz Schubert, and the shocking power
of Bela Bartok. And this glorious music will be performed by some with the legendary
quartets of the past,
distinguished quartets of the present, and brilliant young artists at the beginning
of their quartet careers.
But enough talk for now. The music's the thing.
So let's plunge right into the subject by having you listen to an excerpt
for one of the hundreds of quartet masterpieces,
Maurice Ravel’s string quartet in F major,
some of the most beautiful music ever written.
[MUSIC]