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For cellist Antoine Lederlin, a string quartet is, above all, a human idea and imagination, before any musical idea. In the case of the Belcea Quartet, all three aspects have undoubtedly been successfully consolidated, having now spanned over 30 years together. In the Ordenssaal, the chamber music heart and home of the Ludwigsburg Palace Festival, the musicians present three complex masterpieces of quartet literature from Viennese Classical and Modern periods, a program that invites both concentrated listening and relaxed contemplation. Furthermore, Mozart's string quartet, known as the "Hoffmeister Quartet," as well as the late works of Benjamin Britten and Ludwig van Beethoven, evoke a wide range of emotions: Mozart's work from his Viennese years—like his "Figaro"—can instantly provoke laughter and tears at the same time. In his last completed instrumental work, Benjamin Britten dramatically and fatefully explores the dark sides of humanity, while Beethoven wrapped the suffering of his everyday life in C-sharp minor, sonorous but with noble restraint.

PCMS welcomes back the Belcea Quartet—praised for their “superior artistry… full of style, feeling, and expressive depth” (New York Classical Review). The Belcea’s return to the Kimmel Center features a Philadelphia premiere by one of Europe’s most esteemed composers, Brett Dean; the last of the quintessential string quartets Mozart dedicated to Haydn (who, upon hearing it, immediately declared Mozart “the greatest composer I know, either personally or by reputation”); and the bittersweet potency of Beethoven’s final complete opus.

This uplifting ensemble makes regular series appearances because they are simply one of the leading quartets in the world. The Belceas pair Mozart’s revolutionary work with a new work written expressly for them, followed by Beethoven’s final contribution to the genre.