Face to Face with Genius
"pe you believe that I am thinking of your miserable violin when I am talking to my God?" said Beethoven when Ignace Schuppanzigh, leader of the first famous string quartet and pioneer of Beethoven’s last quartets, complained about a difficult passage. The NBS String Quartet, playing Opus 127 in E Flat the other night from 2YA, probably understood Schuppanzigh’s feelings and sympathised with him. The last quartets are difficult enough in the matter of mere notes, but these are difficulties that technique will solve. It is the problems of interpretation these quartets propound that makes them so uncommonly elusive. Enigmatical, disdaining all convention, Beethoven has poured into this music unfathomable thoughts that sum up the philosophy of a lifetime. I should like to hear the NBS Quartet play Opus 127 again, for I am sure they too must have discovered
that genius parts with its secrets reluctantly. Incidentally, I think both listeners and broadcasting service take the NBS Quartet a little too much for granted. More recognition of their work, and the organisation of their programmes into series, with appropriate commentary, would extend their listening value enormously; and as a matter of interest, as well as a courtesy, could we have, the names of the other members in addition to that of the leader?
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19460531.2.28.1
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 362, 31 May 1946, Page 14
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219Face to Face with Genius New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 362, 31 May 1946, Page 14
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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