Synopsis

In 1885, a 20-year old violinist named Franz Kneisel came to America to become concertmaster of the Boston Symphony. That same year he formed the Kneisel Quartet, the first professional string quartet in America. For the next 30 years, their concerts were major musical events.

On today’s date in 1894, this review of a Kneisel Quartet performance appeared in the Boston Globe:

“It was one of the most interesting concerts ever given in Chickering Hall. First on the program was the Dvořák Quartet in F Major, which has never before been played in public. It was given a private performance in New York recently, and the composer was so pleased with the playing of the Kneisels that he gave them the manuscript which they used last night.”

“This composition,” the reviewer continued, “was written last summer and … the melodious parts strongly recall the type of music that the composer says he had in mind when he wrote the quartet … [The performance] was exceptionally good, and the listeners were stirred to a high pitch of enthusiasm. It is safe to say that the Dvořák quartet is a success.”

Not a bad “morning after” review for the premiere of Dvořák’s famous American Quartet, Op. 96.

Music Played in Today's Program

Antonín Dvořák (1841 –1904) String Quartet, Op 96 (American) Keller Quartet Warner 44355