Joseph Haydn - String Quartets Nos. 1, 41 & 82 (Quartetto Armonico)

Information

Composer: Joseph Haydn

• String Quartet No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 1, No. 1, Hob.III:1
• String Quartet No. 41 in G Major, Op. 33, No. 5, Hob.III:41
• String Quartet No. 82 in F Major, Op. 77, No. 2, Hob.III:82

Quartetto Armonico

    Sayo Sugaya, violin

    Emi Ikuta, violin

    Natsuko Sakamoto, viola

    Takui Matsumoto, cello

Date: 2026

Label: MClassics

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Celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2025, the award-winning Quartetto Armonico, formed at the Tokyo University of the Arts, presents a rich Haydn collection highlighting foundational masterpieces of the string quartet genre. Renowned for top honors at prestigious events like the London International String Quartet Competition, the quartet demonstrates decades of refined ensemble precision, warm resonance, and fluent interpretation. This recording brings a fresh vitality to Haydn’s compositions, offering listeners a deeply nuanced musical experience that reflects the ensemble’s evolving artistic maturity as they enter their fourth decade of performance.

Founded in 1995 at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music ("Geidai") under Professors Kiyoshi Okayama and Kazuki Sawa, Quartetto Armonico completed postgraduate chamber music studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna under Johannes Meissl. Masterclasses with legendary ensembles—including the Amadeus, Alban Berg, and Tokyo String Quartets—helped cultivate their award-winning artistry. The ensemble’s accolades include 1st prize at the 2000 "Schubert and the Music of Modern Times" competition, alongside major prizes at the London and Vienna Joseph Haydn competitions. Quartetto Armonico continues to tour extensively across Europe and Japan.