Apollon Musagète Quartett

Two seasons ago, the Apollon Musagète Quartet gave an overwhelming debut concert at deSingel. In the bar afterwards it turned out that these four agreeable gents also had the gift of the gab. They talked thirteen to the dozen about the music of their compatriot Szymanowski. “After Chopin he is the most important composer who ever trod the soil of Poland!” This lecture concert was already agreed upon after one drink.

The evening before their concert, they will tell you everything you need to know about Szymanowski’s First String Quartet. A work which they defend and play with fire and ardour. You hear scraps of Debussy and Ravel. And a healthy dose of ecstatic lyricism in the style of Scriabin or Richard Strauss. In the final, fugal movement, the sarcastic Shostakovich makes an appearance. Each of the four movement is written in a different key, making it a clear case of polytonality. Yet it continues throughout to sound politely consonant and finally ends in a radiant C-major chord.