A sense of rebirth already began for us this spring. In March, the Quartet had the thrilling opportunity to perform again with Daniel Hope. Joining forces at Steve’s invitation on stage at Chamber Music Detroit, we revisited, with Daniel, Dvořák’s Piano Quintet, another beloved Garth Newel staple. It needn’t be said that the wind is in our sails from this momentous experience, and it is with refreshed eyes and ears, and a sense of possibility and optimism, that we look toward Archduke Weekend, our vibrant summer season, and the fast-approaching renovation project we have all been waiting for!
Garth Newel means so many things all at once—is it the music, the food, the landscape, the rare sense of shared experience…D) all of the above? Whichever combination of the many facets of Garth Newel suits your fancy, it is without a doubt that Archduke Weekend hits each and every one of these notes in spades, as the many elements that make up this glorious seasonal gathering come sharply into focus.
We are thawing out a few other favorites from the piano quartet literature this Archduke Weekend. The piano quartet as an ensemble cannot even be mentioned without Mozart, who wrote two great masterworks to inaugurate this specific array of musicians. His G minor Piano Quartet will be paired with Gabriel Fauré’s G minor Piano Quartet (homage or coincidence?) on Saturday—two equally compelling works full of flight and fancy.
If Mozart wrote the first-ever piano quartet, Schumann enhanced the form in 1842 during his frenzied chamber music year. The sister work to his famous piano quintet, also in E-flat major, the quartet makes bold statements in the outer movements, perhaps mirroring Schumann’s no-doubt frantic mindset during this fruitful year of composition. The inner movements show charm and humor, and you’ll hear in the third movement, in particular, some of the most touching music ever written. The Schumann will be presented on Friday alongside Stephen Hartke’s The King of the Sun, which leads us through the mind and paintings of Joan Miró. See my previous blog for a more in-depth exploration: https://www.garthnewel.org/bach-brats-beerand-a-blog/
