Rilke Quartet

The Rilke Quartet presents a program at the Nuovo Teatro Ateneo of La Sapienza University, that represents a program which represents a refined journey through the chamber music repertoire, comparing two masterpieces that underscore the evolution of the string quartet midway between Classicism in its full maturity and the first tensions towards the language of Romanticism.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's String Quartet No. 21 in D major, K. 575, better known as "Prussian Quartet No. 1", belongs to the last group of quartets composed in 1789 at the behest of the King of Prussia, Frederick William II, a passionate cellist. In this composition, in fact, we note the particular attention given to the cello, to which Mozart entrusts a lyrical and virtuosic style. The composition is characterized by perfect balance and an expressive luminosity that reflects the composer's full maturity. Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet No. 7 in F major, Op. 59, No. 1, the first of the three "Razumowsky" quartets, named after Andrey Razumovsky, the Russian ambassador to Vienna, represents a significant innovation in the genre. Composed in 1806, the piece features denser and more complex writing, while the form is expanded to an almost symphonic scope. The Quartet harmonizes dramatic momentum and lyrical depth, creating a dynamic balance that leads to a new Romantic sensibility.

Founded in 2022, the Rilke Quartet is recognized as one of the most promising chamber music groups of the new generation. It has already received several awards, including participation as "Ensemble in residence" at the 2025 edition of the Ticino Musicale festival; it received the prestigious Diploma of Merit from the Accademia Chigiana in the String Quartet and Chamber Music for Strings and Piano class of Maestro Clive Greensmith (Tokyo String Quartet). It won First Prize and the Special Prize as the first-place string quartet at the 2025 edition of the Giulio Rospigliosi International Chamber Music Competition, which consists of a concert in Belgium offered by Chamber Music for Europe – Brussels.

Program:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, String Quartet K575 "Prussian" in D major

Ludwig van Beethoven, String Quartet Op. 59 No. 1 "Razumovsky" in F major

Photo: official poster of the concert