Pushing the boundaries of the genre, Beethoven and Korngold take the string quartet to new frontiers with these ground-breaking works. When premiered in 1825, Beethoven’s Op.127 quartet stunned listeners with its innovation of expression and form. This work heralded a dramatic shift in Beethoven’s trajectory, having already taken the string quartet to unprecedented heights. The first of his late quartets, here we glimpse a far more personal, philosophical, and inward-looking approach to musical rhetoric. Korngold’s success as a Hollywood film composer cemented his place in history. As a serious composer of post-Romantic music, he produced some extraordinary works that have long been overlooked. His second string quartet is no exception—its highly romantic harmonies are sprinkled with surprises that imbue it with a fresh and highly original sound. Australian composer Harry Sdraulig is making waves across the country with a string of compelling new works. We are thrilled to be giving the premiere performances of his second string quartet, a fitting companion for the dynamic powerhouses of this program. BEETHOVEN String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op.127 HARRY SDRAULIG String Quartet No.2 (National Premiere performances)* KORNGOLD String Quartet No.2 in E-flat Major, Op.26 Approximately 120 minutes including interval *Commissioned by John Griffiths for his wife Beth