SCHUBERT, Franz

String quartet in E flat major D 87 op 125 no. 1

I. Allegro moderato

Peter Cropper, guest Professor

Cuarteto Ad libitum de Mastercard
Xin Ye, violin
Mariam Nahapetyan, violin
Ewelina Bielarczyk, viola
Mikolaj Konopelski, cello

At the beginning, Professor Cropper asks the students about the work and Schubert’s life and, also about the students’ opinion on the piece. Cropper compares it with other kind of repertoire such as Mozart’s. The Professor thinks that the piece needs imagination and singing to be properly played and explains the phrasing in depth. Phrasing is also very linked with the character. Every phrase is like a kaleidoscope, plenty of details and different colours in relation to the perspective we use. It is necessary to keep the sound until the end of every phrase. It is better to sing not only with vibrato but with the bow as well. In repeated phrases, the students should give other directions and make it different each time. During the whole masterclass, Cropper insists on the idea of singing the phrases and transmits to the students the beauty, the mood and deep feelings contained in Schubert’s music.

Language: English