Mozart: String Quartet No. 21, Prussian No. 1 | Gewandhaus Quartet

Four strings in perfect balance: The Gewandhaus Quartet plays Mozart's String Quartet No. 21 in D major, K. 575, “Prussian No. 1”, in the historic surrounds of Rammenau Baroque Castle, 2005.
(00:00) I. Allegretto
(07:15) II. Andante
(11:26) III. Menuetto: Allegretto
(17:25) IV. Allegretto
Of the 23 string quartets composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791), the final three bear the epithet 'Prussian' - as it is said that Prussian king Frederick William II commissioned them from Mozart. Mozart did in fact travel to Potsdam and Berlin - among other places - in the spring of 1789, with the intention of offering his service as a composer to the Prussian king. Frederick William II had succeeded his uncle Frederick II on the Prussian throne upon his death and, like his uncle, was known to be a great lover and supporter of music. He himself also played the cello. This fabled meeting of Mozart and the music-loving king, however, never took place. Mozart apparently traveled back to Vienna without having received a royal commission, and completed the first of the 'Prussian' string quartets in June of 1789. Although he did dedicate it to the new King of Prussia in his 'catalog raisonné', the dedication was no longer present in the finalised original score.
The connection to cello-playing Frederick William II remained nonetheless apparent, as the cello features so prominently in the three 'Prussian' string quartets. In string quartets, it is typically the first violin that sets the tone, but here the leading role is often granted to the cello. It's the cello that determines the course of the 'conversation' between the string instruments. Mozart succeeded in bringing the interplay of the four strings into almost perfect balance, regardless. In particular, String Quartet No. 21 in D major stands out for its balance of form. Its lyrical, cheerful character is reminiscent of the 'galant' style, so highly favored in Prussia at the time.
The Gewandhaus Quartet (also known as the Leipzig Gewandhaus Quartet) was founded in 1808, thereby making it one of the world's oldest professional quartets. It is made up of the soloists and concertmasters of the Gewandhaus Orchestra. The Gewandhaus Quartet have performed numerous premieres of works by renowned composers.
Performing in this concert:
Frank-Michael Erben (first violin)
Conrad Suske (second violin)
Volker Metz (viola)
Jürnjakob Timm (cello)
© EuroArts Music International
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[@miklospohl4541]

Absolutely sublime playing. The feeling is there in spades. Wolfgang would love to hear this!

[@DWClassicalMusic]

We're glad you like it!

[@robertmarcus9653]

So good. I realize just how much more beautiful this quartet. I would save the universe just for this music. 🌱🌾💐☘️🥀🔥🌻

[@angelracing]

[@ileanadobra7358]

😊♥️♥️♥️

[@Rosangela161]

Completely agree...

[@Stefan_G.]

Kleine Runde - große Musik. Phantastisch!

[@erichodge567]

This is one of the very first pieces that made me fully understand the greatness of Mozart. Very few things in music truly merit the adjective, "exquisite", but this thing truly does.

[@jeffsmith1798]

The quintessence of exquisite.

[@rafaelderosas3932]

Muchas gracias DW Musica Clasica por publicar esta hermosa obra..Hace mucho tiempo no veia ni escuchaba al Gewandhaus Quartet.Talentosos maestros.Antes en Argentina teniamos el Canal Arpegio que difundia esta musica.Pero lamentablemente fue levantado...De hecho pude alli ver el Concierto para violin y orquesta de Mendelsshon donde el maestro Frank-Michael Erben fue el violin solista,,Gracias,muchas gracias por la musica y por los recuerdos...

[@DWClassicalMusic]

Nos alegramos mucho de que lo haya disfrutado 😊 Gracias por sintonizarnos.

[@notaire2]

Wunderschöne und detaillierte Aufführung dieses perfekt komponierten Streichquartetts in verschiedenen Tempi mit seidigen doch gut phrasierten Tönen vierer technisch fehlerlosen Instrumente. Der zweite Satz klingt besonders schön und echt melodisch. Im Kontrast klingt der letzte Satz echt lebhaft und auch begeisternd. Die intime und perfekt entsprechende Miteinanderwirkung zwischen den vier Virtuosen ist wahrlich eindrucksvoll. Wunderbar vom Anfang bis zum Ende!

[@user-or6ji5bz8b]

❤а какое великолепное звучание❤

[@user-or6ji5bz8b]

❤и стройность и одухотвореннсть и изящество вполной гармонии

[@Artist_Aejoo]

늘 좋은 연주 영상 올려주셔 감사해요 늘 잘 보고 있습니다 😊

[@itamarbar9580]

Wolker Metz is a fantastic chamber violist. He knows when to break out, but he is always quieter than Erben, always complementary. Not to mention, his sound is the perfect, quintessential, viola sound, fitting for a string quartet.

[@aliasgharpashmi1355]

Mozarts every piece, is a masterpiece thanks dear!🌹🌹❤❤🧿

[@anitaweber814]

Wunderschön!!!! Danke!!!💕🎶💕🎶💕🎶💕🎶💕🎶💕

[@DWClassicalMusic]

😊

[@andredonhachi4890]

Comme c'est beau tout ça ! Ils ne sont pourtant qu'à quatre. Bon courage !

[@ken1midjourney]

Fantastic

[@fulgenjbatista4640]

🕊🌟🕊 Major BEAUTY 🙏💜🙏 💜🎵💜

[@italianoitalianmadeeasy...3216]

Fantastico !

[@pandoraefretum]

it doesn't get any better than this

[@lenanielsen5903]

So beautiful🍃thank you

[@DWClassicalMusic]

😊

[@guillermomiranda9703]

Very professional interpretation of this nice quartet...I was delighted and thankful for this uploading

[@DWClassicalMusic]

We're glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@jascharl]

Flavors of Eine kleine Nachtmusik within this.

[@Rosangela161]

DW: Thank you dear friends for sharing this adorable selection. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.😊🌹❤️

[@DWClassicalMusic]

We're glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching and listening! 😊

[@horacefrancou9802]

Master Players as always.Rhwt honour Mozart,

[@xeniasebastianicalderon9607]

Precioso

[@litoboy5]

COOL

[@ericksoncesar7290]

Perfeito 😃👏👏👏👏👏

[@anitaweber814]

👍😄👏👏👏dreaming of another better world 🎻🎻🎻🎶💕🎶💕🎶💕🎶💕🎶💕

[@jeffsmith1798]

@@anitaweber814 👍

[@MariamAli-jf9zf]

I often wonder what more masterpieces Mozart would have made if he had lived longer ! 😑😑

[@cornel999]

yup. as a violinist, i wish he had written some violin concertos in the same time period as his late piano concertos. genius music. but yeah, imagine all the masterpieces of all types we'd have if he had been healthy for another 15-20 years.

[@shimotsuke8726]

これは素晴らしい演奏。自然でかつ音楽が生きている。モーツァルトの微笑みが見えるようだ。

[@englishfromatoz8970]

💕

[@mariainesdeandradealcantar3263]

MOZART É UM ANJO 👼 👼 👼 👼 vestido de gente.

[@angelracing]

[@user-or6ji5bz8b]

❤без преувеличения музыкальные Боги❤

[@DWClassicalMusic]

Thank you for your comment. If possible, please comment in English next time so that more people can follow the discussion. All the best!

[@mahmoudtarek9921]

I want the other quartets Can any one help?

[@annemarie4137]

🎻🎻🎻🌸🌺🌸🌺💮🌸🙏DW classic Esse lugar é tão lindo!

[@DWClassicalMusic]

Muito obrigado pelo elogio!😊

[@salvatoremartella5397]

…forse un poco troppo veloce, per essere un “allegretto”…. Tre tacche di metronomo in meno….., e sarebbe stato perfetto!