Aviv Quartet & Ishay Shaer

This evening’s concert presents a rich journey through the Classical and Romantic string repertoire, performed by the distinguished Aviv Quartet and pianist Ishay Shaer.

The programme opens with Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 76, No. 4, "Sunrise", one of the most celebrated works from his late period. Nicknamed for its radiant opening, where the first violin gently ascends over a shimmering accompaniment, the "Sunrise" Quartet exemplifies Haydn’s masterful innovation within the genre, blending lyricism, structural sophistication, and playful wit.

Following this, the ensemble performs Felix Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 44, No. 1. Composed during a particularly prolific and joyous period of Mendelssohn’s life, this quartet is distinguished by its sparkling energy, lyrical eloquence, and technical brilliance, combining Classical form with a vibrant Romantic spirit.

After the interval, the concert concludes with a work of profound warmth and exuberance: Antonín Dvořák’s Piano Quintet in A major, B. 155, Op. 81. Fusing Czech folk influences with lush Romantic expression, Dvořák’s quintet stands as one of the pinnacles of the chamber music repertoire, offering soaring melodies, rhythmic vitality, and deep emotional resonance.