Haydn's 'Lark' Quartet

Sara Mohr-Pietsch wends her way towards Haydn's glorious string quartet Op. 64 No.5 'The Lark'.

The quartet was written towards the end of Haydn's time with the Esterhazy family, a working relationship that enabled the incredible flourishing of not just the string quartet, but the symphony too. Sara explores the tricky terrain of other musical patronages, including musical offerings from JS Bach, Louise Farrenc and a lovestruck Schubert. And along the way, there are sidepaths to dancing music with Handel and Germaine Tailleferre, larks in flight from Tchaikovsky, and a famous musical leap that opens a boozy bit of opera by Verdi.