On this recording the legendary (Leipzig) Gewandhaus Quartet perform three of the most well known works by the composer known as the “father” of the string quartet, Joseph Haydn. The disc includes his op. 76, No. 2 in D minor “Fifths”, No. 3 in C major “Emperor”, and No. 4 in B flat major “Sunrise”.

With almost two hundred years of history behind it, the Gewandhaus Quartet is the oldest continuously existing string quartet of all time. The legendary line-up consists of Frank-

Michael Erben (1st violin), Conrad Suske (2nd violin), Volker Metz (viola) and Jürnjakob Timm (cello).

Joseph Haydn, the great Austrian composer is considered to be the “father” of the string quartet. He is particularly famous for writing the main theme of the German national anthem which appears in his Quartet in C major opus 76 No. 3 known as the “Emperor”. The six string quartets that make up Haydn’s opus 76 set were written in 1797 and dedicated to the Hungarian Count Joseph Erdödy. Apart from the “Emperor” this recording also features No. 2 in D minor nicknamed the “Fifths”, and No. 4 in B flat major known as the “Sunrise”.