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INTÉGRALE DES QUATUORS À CORDES 35
not allow himself, bound as he was by the artistic requirements of serving
his prince. In extending the limits of tonal harmony, as in the deeply moving
effects of the quartet’s Adagio, Mozart foreshadowed the world of Schubert
and Brahms.
In early 1789, Mozart was in Berlin.
Although he had the benefit of exceptional soloists and the musical
preferences of Frederick William II, himself an excellent cellist, he found
the composition of his three “Prussian” quartets “tedious work”. K575,
understandably, gave pride of place to the cello. Mozart revised his scores and
considerably enhanced the technique on the advice of the court musicians.
Writing the other two quartets was postponed because he was composing
Cosí fan tutte. K589 and K590 continued his exploration of counterpoint with
thematic material better suited for development. The influence of galante
music declined. Carried away by the performance, the listener barely notices
the internal shifts, daring modulations and an inventiveness that adds the
final stones to the classical edifice. One might easily forget the composer’s
suffering, his wistful and disillusioned smile.
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