Diotima Quartet

We welcome the return of French string quartet Quatuor Diotima, who have performed at Konserthuset on several occasions and often alternate new compositions with classics. Now, just a few weeks after the Composer Weekend featuring Swedish Lisa Streich, we hear Streich’s string quartet, the world premiere of which Quatuor Diotima just gave in Strasbourg. Lisa Streich has described Sternenstill (“Star Clear”) as choreography for the musicians’ arms. 

We move from choregraphed to nearly operatic. In addition to its external sophistication, the lyrical suite from 1926 proved later to contain many personal secrets – an entire story, in fact. In the notes A-B-H-F, Alban Berg expresses his love for Hanna Fuchs-Robettin. She was married, as was he, and in this music they are united through their initials.

First, Quatuor Diotima presents the early Quartet in D-Major by Schubert. It was composed in 1813; he was 16 years old and studying with Antonio Salieri. The music is dedicated to his father on his “name day” and its first performance was likely at home, with his father and older brothers, and Schubert himself on viola.