String Quartet (Verdi)

Giuseppe Verdi's String Quartet in E minor was written in the spring of 1873 during a production of Aida in Naples. It is the only surviving chamber music work in Verdi's catalogue.

String Quartet
by Giuseppe Verdi
Portrait of Verdi by Ferdinand Mulnier
Native name	Quartetto in mi minore
Key	E minor
Genre	Classical music
Form	String Quartet
Composed	1873 (1873) – 1873 (1873): Naples
Performed	1 April 1873 (1873-04-01): Naples
Published	1873 (1873): Milan: Ricordi
Movements	4 movements Allegro Andantino Prestissimo Scherzo Fuga. Allegro assai mosso
Scoring	2 violins, viola, cello

History

Verdi's production of Aida in early March, 1873 was delayed due to the sudden illness of soprano Teresa Stolz.^[1] Verdi focused his time in Naples on the writing of his first chamber work, the String Quartet in E minor. The work was premiered two days after the opening of Aida during an informal recital at his hotel on April 1, 1873.^[1] The names of the original performers survive only as Pinto brothers, violins, Salvadore, viola, and Giarritiello, cello.

Verdi commented on the work, saying "I've written a Quartet in my leisure moments in Naples. I had it performed one evening in my house, without attaching the least importance to it and without inviting anyone in particular. Only the seven or eight persons who usually come to visit me were present. I don't know whether the Quartet is beautiful or ugly, but I do know that it's a Quartet!"

The quartet also exists in a version for string orchestra by Arturo Toscanini.^[2]

Structure

The Quartet is scored for the usual string quartet complement of two violins, viola, and cello.

1. Allegro
2. Andantino
3. Prestissimo
4. Scherzo Fuga. Allegro assai mosso