In the Romantic period, the string quartet developed into the very highest form of chamber music. Quatuor Romantique focuses mainly on this High Romantic period, but also performs Mozart’s late string quartets and early 20th century quartets. The musicians play original instruments, inspired by the historically informed performance practice specifically linked to the Romantic stylistic period: portamento (technique of sliding from one note to another), rubato (freedom of tempo) and horizontal combined playing. The intention of this is not to reconstruct bygone days, but to interpret the message in the music with these historical instruments and the knowledge of how they were played.
Quatuor Romantique performs Brahms’ second string quartet – one of the highlights of Romanticism – and Bartók’s first string quartet (1908-1909), the bridge to 20th century expressionism in which the ‘old world’ leans towards modern sounds. Enjoy an exceptional programme that is seldom performed in this manner.
Program
J. Brahms: String Quartet no. 2 in A Minor, opus 51 no. 2 | B. Bartók: String Quartet no. 1, opus 7
Performers
Quator Romantique: Guido de Neve, Christophe Pochet, violin | Hans Cammaert, viola | Didier Poskin, cello
