Pairing Beethoven and Adams with two riotously inventive French Baroque showpieces proves that the best jokes never get old. Comedy is a very serious business. Beethoven knew that when his exuberant Second Symphony cheerfully booted the classical rule-book out of the window; and John Adams certainly knew it when he leafed through the scherzos of Beethoven's late string quartets and transformed them into Absolute Jest; a one-off concerto for string quartet that takes Beethoven seriously enough to laugh along with him.
As soloists, the Doric String Quartet definitely get it; and guest conductor Markus Stenz gets it too, pairing Beethoven and Adams with two riotously inventive French Baroque showpieces that prove that the best jokes never get old.
Pre-Concert Talk: 6.45pm
Conductor Markus Stenz in conversation
(free to ticket holders)
To be recorded for future broadcast on 麻豆官网首页入口 Radio 3.
