维也纳之夜 1784／海顿-莫扎特-迪特斯多夫-瓦哈尔

Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) – String Quartet in G major, Op. 33/5. Jan Křtitel Vaňhal (1739–1813) – String Quartet in A major, Op. 33/2. Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739–1799) – String Quartet No. 5 in E flat major. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) – String Quartet No. 19 in C major, K 465 “Dissonance”.

Bennewitz Quartet: Jakub Fišer – 1st violin, Štěpán Ježek – 2nd violin, Jiří Pinkas – viola, Štěpán Doležal – cello

“…Storace gave a quartet party to his friends. The players were tolerable, not one of them excelled on the instrument he played; but there was a little science among them, which I dare say will be acknowledged when I name them: First violin Haydn, second violin Baron Dittersdorf, violoncello Vanhal, viola Mozart…” The tenor Michael Kelly’s recollection of that musical evening in 1784 in Vienna has been the source of much speculation by musicologists, and it is also one of the things that inspired this recording. The four composers, all highly acclaimed in their day, met in multiethnic Vienna, and they shared the bond of friendship. While Mozart behaved towards Haydn with respect like that of a pupil towards a master and dedicated a series of six string quartets to him (including the “Dissonant Quartet” in C major), Haydn told Mozart’s father that his son was “the greatest composer known to me either in person or by name.” Dittersdorf was likewise unsparing with superlatives in his autobiography: “He is undoubtedly one of the greatest original geniuses, and I have never before known any composer with such an amazing wealth of ideas.” The names of Dittersdorf and Vaňhal are familiar to some, but few have encountered their music. This recording offers an opportunity to discover those nearly forgotten masters’ works superbly interpreted by the Bennewitz Quartet. The enthusiastic acclaim of international critics for their previous Haydn album is affirmation of their extraordinary quality in this repertoire.

More remarkable discoveries from the hand of the Bennewitz Quartet

01. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 5 in G Major, Op. 33, Hob. III41 I. Vivace assai
02. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 5 in G Major, Op. 33, Hob. III41 II. Largo e cantabile
03. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 5 in G Major, Op. 33, Hob. III41 III. Scherzo. Allegro
04. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 5 in G Major, Op. 33, Hob. III41 IV. Finale. Allegretto
05. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 33 I. Allegro moderato
06. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 33 II. Arietta I – Arietta II
07. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 33 III. Adagio sostenuto
08. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 33 IV. Rondo. Allegro molto
09. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 33, Kr. 195 I. Allegro
10. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 33, Kr. 195 II. Menuetto. Non troppo presto
11. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 33, Kr. 195 III. Finale. Allegro
12. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465 Dissonance I. Adagio – Allegro
13. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465 Dissonance II. Andante cantabile
14. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465 Dissonance III. Menuetto. Allegro
15. Bennewitz Quartet – String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465 Dissonance IV. Allegro molto