3. Sunday Matinée »STRING QUARTETS I«

In its chamber music programme, the Catori Quartet juxtaposes two composers who both share the first name Felix. One is of course the well-known Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. He composed his String Quartet in E flat major, Op. 12, at the age of 20, drawing on his studies of Beethoven’s work. The work underwent a long journey during the compositional process, as it was written whilst he was travelling through England and Scotland. Mendelssohn’s state of being in love at the time of composition may be noticeable in the enchanting canzonetta. However, the lyrical phrases and virtuoso flourishes served only to further his professional success.

Half a century later, the Russian composer Felix Blumenfeld was born. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov became his great mentor. The String Quartet in F major is his only work for this ensemble. Nevertheless, with its melodic variety, it is a mature quartet well worth listening to. As a work of the late Romantic Russian school, it was awarded first prize by the St Petersburg Chamber Music Society.