Artis Quartet

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Experience the Artis Quartet's captivating performances at Vienna's prestigious Musikverein in the intimate Brahms-Saal. Featuring a diverse repertoire from Haydn to Zemlinsky, each concert in their farewell season promises an evening of profound chamber music. Join us for a series showcasing their mastery and the hall's renowned acoustics, ensuring a memorable musical journey in the heart of Vienna.

Program and cast

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2024
Artis Quartet
Peter Schuhmayer, Violin
Johannes Meissl, Violin
Herbert Kefer, Viola
Othmar Müller, Cello

 

PROGRAM
Farewell Season
JOSEPH HAYDN
String Quartet in D Minor, Hob. III:43
EMILIE MAYER
String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 14
– Intermission –
ALEXANDER ZEMLINSKY
String Quartet No. 2, Op. 15

 

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2025
Artis Quartet
Peter Schuhmayer, Violin
Johannes Meissl, Violin
Herbert Kefer, Viola
Othmar Müller, Cello
Markus Schirmer, Piano

 

PROGRAM
Farewell Season
FRANZ SCHUBERT
String Quartet in E-flat Major, D 87
JULIUS RÖNTGEN
Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 100
– Intermission –
JOHANNES BRAHMS
String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 67

 

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2025
Artis Quartet
Peter Schuhmayer, Violin
Johannes Meissl, Violin
Herbert Kefer, Viola
Othmar Müller, Cello

 

PROGRAM
Farewell Season
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
String Quartet in D Major, K. 575, "The Violet"
LEOŠ JANÁČEK
String Quartet No. 2, "Intimate Letters"
– Intermission –
FELIX MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY
String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80

 

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025
Artis Quartet
Peter Schuhmayer, Violin
Johannes Meissl, Violin
Herbert Kefer, Viola
Othmar Müller, Cello
Veronika Hagen, Viola
Clemens Hagen, Cello
Stefan Vladar, Piano

 

PROGRAM
Farewell Season
JOHANNES BRAHMS
String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 18
– Intermission –
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34

Musikverein Brahms Hall

For many years, this hall was known only as the “Kleine Musikvereinssaal”, until in 1937, during the 125th anniversary year of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien, it was given a name that truly reflects its importance: the Brahms Saal. Johannes Brahms not only performed in person in this hall, he was also behind the very first concert to be performed here, by Clara Schumann on 19 January 1870. The standards set that day have been maintained ever since. The Brahms Saal remains one of the most prized locations for the greatest chamber music ensembles and lieder singers performing in the world today.

 

With just under of 600 seats, the hall is designed to showcase the intimate aspects of classical music. The hall acoustics are perfectly attuned to deliver this: the Brahms Saal – 32.50 metres long, 10.30 metres wide und 11 metres high – possesses a similar acoustic brilliance to the Große Musikvereinssaal.

 

When the Musiverein building was opened in 1870, the Kleine Musikvereinssaal was described as a “true little treasure chest”. It was even suggested that this hall might warrant greater praise and wonderment than the Große Musikvereinssaal: “One might even wish to award the prize to this hall for its peacefulness and simple grandeur.” It is abundantly clear that Theophil Hansen’s design for the Brahms Saal created an architectonic masterpiece of the Historicism period. His commitment to the “Greek Renaissance”, evident in the design’s allusions to classical Hellas, make this concert hall an authentic temple of chamber music.

 

In 1993 the Brahms Saal underwent a comprehensive restoration programme. The restoration project involved consulting the original designs held at the Print Room at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.  This made it possible to reconstruct the original colour scheme created by Hansen as the Musikverein’s architect: green walls, red columns and the liberal use of gold.

 

When the Brahms Saal reopened to the public in its new form in 1993, a Vienna newspaper wrote: “Without wishing to raise expectations too high, this has been transformed into the most beautiful, magnificent and prestigious chamber music concert hall we are likely to find anywhere in the world.”

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