Austria’s Hagen Quartet, founded 45 years ago by four siblings, will tour to Cal Performances on Feb. 23 before the ensemble disbands later this year.
On the program: Haydn’s String Quartets Op. 54, No. 1 and No. 3, and Robert Schumann’s String Quartet No. 3. This will be the Hagen’s third appearance at Cal Performances, following concerts in 1994 and 1998.
The Salzburg-based group consists of violinists Lukas Hagen and Rainer Schmidt (the latter the only non-sibling member), violist Veronika Hagen, and cellist Clemens Hagen.
Besides touring and recording, the four are teachers and mentors at the Mozarteum University Salzburg and the Hochschule für Musik Basel. Since its Salzburg Festival debut in 1984, the ensemble has performed complete Beethoven quartet cycles in New York, Tokyo, Paris, London, Salzburg, and Vienna.
Previously, the group performed on four famous Stradivarius instruments, played before the Hagen by the Cleveland Quartet and the Tokyo String Quartet; the instruments are now played by the Quartetto di Cremona.
The Hagen has received extravagant praise in recent years, including from The New York Times after one of the ensemble’s Beethoven performances:
“It is hard to know what to admire most in the quartet’s playing. It is almost impeccable, despite the many risks being taken: tempos nudged ahead, dynamics pushed, pauses extended to the breaking point. The focus and unanimity are astounding.
“The music seems to have an inner life. Even when it is soft and slow, it retains energy. If it is not actually growing louder, it may seem to be intensifying; if it is not actually changing in pitch, it may seem to be changing in color. You get the impression that every note, every gesture has been carefully considered.
“In the rich history of Beethoven cycles, this shapes up as a standout.”
The Hagen’s disbandment follows similar news from the St. Lawrence, Emerson, and Tokyo String Quartets, among other esteemed groups that have parted ways recently.
