MUSS ES SEIN? ES MUSS SEIN!
Orsolina28 Art Foundation is pleased to welcome Quartetto Noûs for a residency dedicated to the study and practice of Ludwig van Beethoven’s late string quartets.
Between 1824 and 1826 Beethoven composed his final six string quartets (Opp. 127, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135), a series of works that marks a profound turning point in music history. Conceived almost as a unified cycle, they share rhythmic figures, thematic elements and a highly innovative architecture that transcends classical sonata form.
Belonging to Beethoven’s so-called late style, these works reflect a period of radical experimentation, in which he redefined his musical language and opened new expressive horizons. Their audacity and complexity were initially misunderstood: for instance, the Große Fuge Op. 133, originally intended as the finale of Op. 130, was rarely performed in the 19th century and was only later recognized as a masterpiece.
The String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat major, Op. 127, commissioned by Prince Nikolai Galitzin, balances tradition and innovation. Its central Adagio, a theme and variations, unfolds with remarkable expressive depth, moving between introspection, drama, and lightness.
With the String Quartet No. 16 in F major, Op. 135, Beethoven’s final quartet, the musical language becomes more concise and transparent. The famous final movement, marked by the question “Muss es sein?” (“Must it be?”) and the answer “Es muss sein!” (“It must be!”), carries a philosophical resonance, often interpreted as a reflection on fate and acceptance.
Quartetto Noûs
In ancient Greek philosophy, Noûs represents the highest faculty of the mind: intuition, intellect, and inspiration. This concept deeply informs the artistic identity of the Quartetto Noûs, whose performances are marked by clarity, creative energy and interpretative freedom.
Founded in 2011, the Italian ensemble has quickly established itself as one of the most compelling chamber groups of its generation, praised for its cohesive sound and distinctive artistic voice.
Their training bridges the Italian tradition and leading European schools, including the Accademia “Walter Stauffer” in Cremona with the Quartetto di Cremona, the Musik Akademie Basel with Rainer Schmidt, the Escuela Superior de Música “Reina Sofía” in Madrid, the Accademia Chigiana in Siena with Günter Pichler, and the Musikhochschule Lübeck with Heime Müller.
Awarded the “Piero Farulli” Prize at the Premio Abbiati and the “Arthur Rubinstein – Una Vita nella Musica” Prize in 2015, the quartet is recognized for both its artistic maturity and its commitment to the chamber music repertoire.
Regularly invited to major concert series in Italy and abroad, the Quartetto Noûs has performed across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, collaborating with renowned musicians. Their discography includes releases with Warner Classics and Brilliant Classics, combining core repertoire with contemporary works.