Concert with an introductory talk by leading musicologists (Prof. Miloš Štědroň, Prof. John Tyrrell, PhDr. Jiří Zahrádka, Ph.D.)
The two string quartets by Leoš Janáček (1854–1928) represent some of the greatest music of the 20th century, and of all time. They were written by a composer who was already experienced and mature, recognized both at home and abroad, and both quartets share the theme of love. The String Quartet no. 2 “Intimate Letters”, the last of Janáček’s completed works, is the musical parallel to the love letters which the composer had been writing since 1917 to the object of his desire, Kamila Stösslová from Písek, who was 37 years his junior. Janáček completed this ardent and stormy confession, originally for the viola d’amore, on 19 February 1928 as Love Letters – however, a day later he changed the title to Intimate Letters because he did not want to advertise his feelings to the public quite so openly. The first letter describes “the first fateful meeting” with Kamila, the second is the “music of confession”, the third expresses Janáček’s “sweetest longing” and the fourth – with the composer’s unflagging energy – its defiant fulfilment.
The work was written over only 22 days, during which he also sent letters to Kamila describing his ebullient work. “You know that sometimes feeling itself can be so powerful and strong that the music hides and flees beneath it. Great love – poor composition. Whereas what I would like is: Great love – glorious composition.” And that was what he created.
The work took on its definitive character in May and June 1928 during rehearsals with the Moravian Quartet, who had also brought to life Janáček’s first quartet. Although the composer did not live to hear the premiere of his work by the Moravian Quartet on 11 September 1928 in Brno, he did hear its final form after two months of rehearsals and he was extremely pleased with it.
The performance by the renowned Graffe Quartet will be complemented by fascinating insights from leading musicologists: Prof. Miloš Štědron, Prof. John Tyrrell and Dr. Jiří Zahrádka.
