Belcea Quartet: Beethoven, Brahms and Brett Dean

Suave is not an adjective often used to describe Beethoven’s music. However, his String Quartet Op.18 No.5 fully earns this attribute. The opening movement is lighter than air, and is followed by a dancing menuet, a set of subtle variations, and a beautiful, teasing finale.

Brahms, meanwhile, fully inhabits the stormy atmosphere of C minor in his String Quartet Op.51 No.1. Two substantial, even orchestral-sounding outer movements frame a soulful Romanze and an intriguing, almost experimental Minuet and Trio. The battle with C minor culminates in a major-key victory at the conclusion of this absorbing chamber work.

Brett Dean’s String Quartet No.4 (“A Little Book of Prayers”) was premiered in October 2025, and was written in memory of Laura Samuel, the founding second violinist of the Belcea Quartet. Dean has noted that there is a particularly prominent role for the second violinist in this new work, which is inspired by prayers of all kinds – both sacred and secular.

Belcea Quartet:
Corina Belcea violin
Suyeon Kang violin
Antoine Lederlin viola
Krzysztof Chorzelski cello