Mendelssohn’s Octet

The Juilliard Quartet, renowned for its technical precision and profound musical insight, alchemizes two landmark works in the string quartet repertoire: Jörg Widmann’s Quartet No. 8 and its inspiration, Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 13.

The quartet brings its distinctive artistry to Beethoven’s masterpiece, showcasing its grandeur, intricacy, and emotional range, from the intensity of its slow movements to the finale’s exuberant fugue. Widmann’s Quartet No. 8 creates a dialogue between past and present, employing innovative techniques and striking sonorities that reflect the evolution of the string quartet form.

The program culminates in Mendelssohn’s Octet, composed when the Romantic prodigy was just 16 years old. One of the most iconic works in the chamber music canon, the Octet dazzles with its youthful exuberance, melodic brilliance, and intricate textures. In a rare and exhilarating moment, the Juilliard Quartet joins forces with their protégés, the Isidore Quartet, to perform this extraordinary work.