Joseph Haydn - String Quartets, Vol. 21 (Leipziger Streichquartett)

Information

Composer: Joseph Haydn

• String Quartet in A Major, Op. 55 No. 1, Hob. III: 60
• String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 55 No. 2, Hob. III: 61
• String Quartet in B-Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 3, Hob. III: 62

Leipziger Streichquartett

    Stefan Arzberger, violin

    Tilman Büning, violin

    Ivo Bauer, viola

    Peter Bruns, cello

Date: 2026

Label: Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm

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In this recording of Haydn’s String Quartets Op. 55, the Leipzig String Quartet highlights the composer’s mature mastery of the Classical style. The three quartets combine elegance, wit, and structural ingenuity. No. 1 opens with energetic brilliance and unfolds through a noble Adagio, an inventive Minuet and Trio, and a lively Finale rich in instrumental dialogue. No. 2—nicknamed the “Razor” quartet—begins unusually with a slow variation movement in F minor, creating tonal tension between minor and major that resolves triumphantly in a spirited finale. No. 3 features a striking unison opening motif developed through refined counterpoint, followed by a reflective Adagio, a playful Minuet, and a virtuosic Presto conclusion.

Founded in 1988, the Leipzig Quartet has become one of the most respected and versatile chamber ensembles of its generation. Initially formed by members of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the musicians devoted themselves fully to chamber music in 1993 after advanced studies with leading mentors including the Amadeus Quartet and Walter Levin. The ensemble gained early international recognition by winning the ARD Competition in Munich in 1991 and has since received numerous prestigious awards. With an active global concert schedule and appearances at major festivals, the quartet has also built an extensive discography of around 100 recordings, including complete cycles of Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and the Second Viennese School, while maintaining a strong commitment to contemporary music and premieres.