Benjamin Britten et al. in London - 1 December, 1933

from Journeying boy : the diaries of the young Benjamin Britten 1928-1938, page 155:

Go to Chamber concert at 8.30 with Grace at B.B.C. - Kolisch Quartet. playing Mozart D min. & Beethoven A min. Krenek - var. from op 5. & five pieces of Webern.* All from Memory - astounding. Amazing technique & the perf of modern works all to be desired. The classics ought to have been perfect too - but spoilt by erractic speeds (esp. finale of B.) & general lack of understanding. The Krenek, as music, was dull. The Webern interesting & very beautiful in parts. 

cite as

John Evans (ed.), Journeying boy : the diaries of the young Benjamin Britten 1928-1938 (:London, 2009), p. 155. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1437663475757 accessed: 29 March, 2024

location of experience: London

Listeners

Benjamin Britten
Composer
1913-1976
Grace Williams
Schoolmistress, Composer
1906-1977

Listening to

hide composers
Five Movements for string quartet, Op. 5
written by Anton Webern
performed by Kolisch Quartet
String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132
written by Beethoven
performed by Kolisch Quartet
'Variations' from String Quartet No. 5 in E flat, Op. 65
written by Ernst Krenek
performed by Kolisch Quartet
String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K421
written by Mozart
performed by Kolisch Quartet

Experience Information

Date/Time 1 December, 1933
Medium live
Listening Environment in the company of others, indoors, in public

Notes

*Mozart String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K421; Beethoven String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132; Krenek 'Variations' from String Quartet No. 5 in E flat, Op. 65 (1930); Webern Five Movements for string quartet, Op. 5 (1909).


Originally submitted by gkw on Thu, 23 Jul 2015 15:57:56 +0100
Approved on Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:48:47 +0100