Divine Beethoven and Debussy string quartet near Lincoln Center

Quartet Knödel, winner of the 2025 Ruth Widder String Quartet Competition, presents a program that bridges Classical clarity and early modern color.

String Quartet in G major, Op. 18 No. 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven, known as the "Compliment" quartet, reveals the composer at the threshold of his quartet writing: transparent, and conversational, yet already charged with rhythmic drive and expressive surprise. Its elegance and humor demand precision, balance, and a keen sense of dialogue among the four voices.

In contrast, String Quartet in G minor by Claude Debussy expands the quartet medium into a world of color, resonance, and cyclical transformation. Modal inflections, shimmering textures, and elastic rhythm dissolve Classical boundaries, inviting the listener into a soundscape shaped as much by atmosphere as by form.

Together, these works trace the string quartet’s evolution—from Beethoven’s articulate conversation to Debussy’s poetic reinvention—highlighting the ensemble’s expressive range and the enduring vitality of the quartet tradition.