Haydn and Mozart Quartets

June 8, 2026, 7:00 pm

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Looking over a cello players shoulder
Looking over a cello players shoulder

Mozart’s six “Haydn” Quartets were dedicated and lovingly handed to Joseph Haydn, like a father entrusting his sons to a friend to protect and guide them. When Haydn first started composing for the string quartet, the first violinist was the star, actually standing in front of the other three players. Ninety-nine Haydn string quartets later, the form had evolved into four equal voices. Bill will share with us the brief time in history when Mozart and Haydn enjoyed each other’s company, playing and composing string quartets together.


Playlist

Episode 1

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No. 0 in E-flat Major, I.
Angeles String Quartet
Haydn: The Complete String Quartets
Philips 464 650
2:53

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op.1. No. 1, I. II. III.
The Dekany String Quartet
Haydn: String Quartets Vol 1
Vox Box 5113
10:15

Roman Hofstetter (attrib. Haydn): Serenade, Op. 3, No. 5
II. Andante cantabile
Amadeus Quartet
The Legendary Amadeus Quartet, Recordings 1951-1957
Brilliant Classics 93807
3:48

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet in D Minor, Op. 9 No. 4
Quatuor Festetics
Haydn: Collection Complete Des Quatuors – Op 9
Arcana 411
23:00

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No. 14 in E Flat, Op. 9 No. 2
Angeles Quartet
Haydn: The Complete String Quartets
Philips 464 650
8:01

Episode 2

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.16 in A-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 6, IV. (excerpt)
Festetics Quartet
Haydn: Collection Complette Des Quatuors Op 9
Arcana 411
1:19

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.16 in A-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 6, IV. (excerpt)
Festetics Quartet
Haydn: Collection Complette Des Quatuors Op 9
Arcana 411
0:25

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.19 in C Minor, Op. 17 No. 4, IV.
Angeles Quartet
Haydn: The Complete String Quartets
Philips 464 650
4:10

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.26 In G Minor, Op. 20 No. 3, I. IV.
Quatuor Mosaïques
Joseph Haydn: Six Quatuors Op. 20
Astree 8784
12:20

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.26 In G Minor, Op. 20 No. 3, IV. (excerpt)
Quatuor Mosaïques
Joseph Haydn: Six Quatuors Op. 20
Astree 8784
0:35

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.25 In C, Op. 20 No. 2, I. IV.
Lindsay Quartet
String Quartets Op. 20 – Nos. 2, 5 & 6
ASV 1057
9:37

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.3 in C Major, Op. 33 No. 3,” The Bird”
Salomon Quartet
String Quartet in B minor, Op 33 No 1
Hyperion 66681
17:12

Episode 3

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.1 in G, K. 80, I.
Éder Quartet
Mozart: String Quartets, K. 80, K. 155, K. 157 and K. 387
Naxos 8.550541
4:33

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.1 in G, K. 80, I. (exceprt)
Éder Quartet
Mozart: String Quartets, K. 80, K. 155, K. 157 and K. 387
Naxos 8.550541
1:00

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No. 3 in G major, K. 156, I. II.
American Quartet
Mozart: Complete String Quartets Vol 2
Nimbus 2533
6:00

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.6 in B-Flat, K. 159, II. Minuet
American Quartet
Mozart: Complete String Quartets Vol 2
Nimbus 2533
4:03

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.8 In F, K 168, I. (excerpt)
Éder Quartet
Mozart: String Quartets, K. 168-169 and K. 589, ‘Prussian No. 2’
Naxos 8.550544
0:25

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.8 In F, K 168, I. (excerpt)
Éder Quartet
Mozart: String Quartets, K. 168-169 and K. 589, ‘Prussian No. 2’
Naxos 8.550544
0:20

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.11 in E-Flat, K 171, I. (excerpt)
American Quartet
Mozart: Complete String Quartets Vol 2
Nimbus 2533
1:44

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No. 13 in D minor, K. 173, I (excerpt), III. IV.
American Quartet
Mozart: Complete String Quartets Vol 2
Nimbus 2533
0:35

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No. 13 in D minor, K. 173, III. IV.
American Quartet
Mozart: Complete String Quartets Vol 2
Nimbus 2533
7:11

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No. 13 in D minor, K. 173, III. IV.
American Quartet
Mozart: Complete String Quartets Vol 2
Nimbus 2533
14:00

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.14 in G Major, K 387, Spring, I. III. IV.
Éder Quartet
Mozart: String Quartets, K. 168-169 and K. 589, ‘Prussian No. 2’
Naxos 8.550544
21:17

Episode 4

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.15 in D Minor, K. 421,
III. Minuetto and Trio (excerpt)
Yale String Quartet
Mozart: Chamber Music Masterpieces
Vanguard 1509
1:14

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.15 in D Minor, K. 421, I.
Yale String Quartet
Mozart: Chamber Music Masterpieces
Vanguard 1509
6:56

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.61 in D Minor, Op. 76/2, “Fifths,” I.
Takács Quartet
Haydn: String Quartets, Op.76 1-3
London 421360
6:33

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.19 in C, K. 465, “Dissonance,” I.
Emerson Quartet
Jagd-Quartett, Dissonanzen-Quartett, Kaiser-Quartett
DG 427 657
10:32

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.19 in C, K. 465, “Dissonance,” I. (excerpt)
Emerson Quartet
Jagd-Quartett, Dissonanzen-Quartett, Kaiser-Quartett
DG 427 657
0:50

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet No.17 in B-Flat, K 458, “Hunt,” I.
Emerson Quartet
Jagd-Quartett, Dissonanzen-Quartett, Kaiser-Quartett
DG 427 657
8:24

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.53 in D, Op. 64/5 ”The Lark,” I.
Hagen Quartet
Three String Quartets
DG 423 622
5:47

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quintet No.3 in C major, K. 515, I.
Amadeus Quartet; Aronowitz, viola
String Quartets Nos. 20, K.499 20 & 21, K.575
EMI 49583
9:13

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quintet No.3 in C major, K. 515, III. MInuetto trio (excerpt)
Amadeus Quartet; Aronowitz, viola
String Quartets Nos. 20, K.499 20 & 21, K.575
EMI 49583
2:05

Episode 5

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.39 In F-sharp Minor, Op. 50 No. 4, I. IV.
Angeles Quartet
Haydn: The Complete String Quartets
Philips 464650
7:46

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.36 In B-flat, Op. 50 No. 1, II.
Angeles Quartet
Haydn: The Complete String Quartets
Philips 464650
7:28

Schubert, Franz: Symphony No.8 in B Minor, D.759
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein
Schubert 5 and 8 Symphonies
DG 427 645 2
0:20

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.59 In G Minor, Op. 74 No. 3, The Rider, IV.
Amadeus Quartet
The Legendary Amadeus Quartet, Recordings 1951-1957
Brilliant 93807
5:44

Haydn, Joseph: The Seven Last Words of Christ, I
The Primrose Quartet (Shumsky, violin; Josef Gingold, violin;
Primrose, viola; Shapiro, violoncello)
Haydn: Seven Last Words Of Christ On The Cross
Coviello 20905
5:51

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 76 No. 4, The Sunrise, I.
Quartetto Italiano
Haydn, Beethoven: String Quartets
Pentatone 5186189
5:59

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.62 In C, Op. 76 No. 3, Emperor, II.
Emerson Quartet
Haydn: String Quartets Op 76 No 1, 5, 6
DG 427 657
6:38

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.64 No. 1 In D Major, Op. 76 No. 5, I.
Alban Berg Quartet
Haydn: String Quartets Op 77 & Op 103
EMI 56826
4:23

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.68 In D Minor (unfinished), Op. 103, I.
Takács Quartet
Haydn: String Quartets Op 77 & Op 103
Decca 430199
4:43

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet No.68 In D Minor (unfinished), Op. 103, IV. Finale
Takács Quartet
Haydn: String Quartets Op 77 & Op 103
Decca 430199
1:46