# Danish String Quartet at Hertz Hall, November 17, 2013

[Cal Performances](http://calperformances.org/performances/2013-14/chamber-orchestra/danish-string-quartet.php) presents  
the [Danish String Quartet](http://danishquartet.com/)  
2013-11-17  
[Hertz Hall](http://www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/)  
[U.C. Berkeley, Bancroft Way at College Ave, Berkeley, CA](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=U.C.+Berkeley,+Bancroft+Way+at+College+Ave,+Berkeley,+CA&hl=en)  
3:00 PM, Sunday, November 17, 2013

## Set One

### Abrahamsen: String Quartet No. 1

Hans Abrahamsen (b. 1952): String Quartet No. 1, _Ten Preludes_ (1973)

01. [3:05 PM] ?  
[work ends 3:28 PM]

### Felix Mendelssohn:  String Quartet in A minor, Op. 13

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847):  String Quartet in A minor, Op. 13, _Ist Es Wahr?_ (1827)

01. [3:30 PM] Adagio — Allegro vivace
02. [3:36 PM] Adagio non lento — Poco più animato — Tempo I
03. [3:47 PM] Intermezzo: Allegretto con moto — Allegro di molto — Tempo I
04. [3:m PM] Presto — Adagio non lento — Adagio  
[work ends 4:04 PM]

## Set Two

### Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132

Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132 (1825)

[4:20 PM lights down]

01. [4:21 PM] Assai sostenuto — Allegro
02. [4:31 PM] Allegro ma non tanto
03. [4:41 PM] Heiliger Dankegesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der lydischen Tonart: Molto adagio — Neue Kraft fühlend: Andante
04. [4:m PM] Alla Marcia, assai vivace — Più allegro
04. [5:00 PM] Allegro appassionato  
[set ends 5:08 PM]

### Encore

01. [5:10 PM] (Unidentified Danish/Swedish folk song)  
[show ends 5:13 PM]


## Performers

* Asbjørn Norgaard: viola;
* Fredrik Oland: violin;
* Frederik Schoyen Sjolin: cello;
* Rune Tonsgaard Sorensen: violin.


## Notes 

A fine afternoon's recital!

I was unfamiliar with the opening work, and somewhat put off by the program notes touting it as containing "almost all that can be desired of musical expression" -- just a little bit of bombast on the part of the promoter, perhaps? -- but in performance, it turned out to be interesting enough. It's not clear to me why the ten movements were not identified in the program notes -- they were obviously marked by full stops during performance -- maybe someday I'll read more about the piece. and find out why!

I found the Mendelssohn piece to be the highlight of the day, as he's one of my favorite composers. Like his magnificent octet, this work unravels with a questing sense that is unrivaled in the classical repertoire.

And while I was looking forward to hearing the Beethoven work again, on this reading I found it to be somewhat turgid and dark ... very much the product of a man suffering from dire illness. This probably fits well with the fall season, but on such a sunny day, the contrast with my mood was too great.

{{tag>music Danish_String_Quartet Hertz_Hall Asbjørn_Norgaard Fredrik_Oland Frederik_Schoyen_Sjolin Rune_Tonsgaard_Sorensen Hans_Abrahamsen Felix_Mendelssohn Ludwig_van_Beethoven}}

[[2013#November_events|Back to the calendar!]]