Joachim Raff - String Quartets Nos. 1 & 5 (Mannheimer Streichquartett)

Information

Composer: Joachim Raff

• String Quartet No. 5 in G Major, Op. 138
• String Quartet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 77

Mannheimer Streichquartett

    Daniel Bell, violin

    Shinkyung Kim, violin

    Sebastian Bürger, viola

    Armin Fromm, cello

Date: 2023

Label: CPO

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Joachim Raff (27 May 1822 —  24 or 25 June 1882) was a German composer and teacher who was greatly celebrated in his lifetime but nearly forgotten by the late 20th century. Initially a self-taught musician, he was influenced by Mendelssohn and Schumann before aligning with Liszt and Wagner's "New German School". He served as Liszt's assistant in Weimar and later taught piano in Wiesbaden. From 1877, he directed the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt. A prolific composer, Raff wrote 11 symphonies, concertos, operas, choral, chamber and piano music. Many of these works are now commercially recorded.

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The Mannheim String Quartet (MSQ), founded in 1975 in Mannheim, derives its name from both its origin and the influential Mannheim School, which helped shape the string quartet genre. After years of development with numerous awards, the MSQ has become a prominent figure in German and international musical scenes. It regularly performs at major festivals like the Schleswig-Holstein Festival and Berliner Festwochen, and tours across Europe and beyond. The MSQ is also known for its acclaimed radio and CD recordings, earning honors such as Echo Klassik Award and German Record Award.

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