The Art of Fugue

A classic test of a composer’s skills and mastery, the fugue is essentially a ‘round’ – like Frère Jacques – developed to showcase dazzling works of harmonic and rhythmic wizardry. This concert features three majestic examples of the form – Bach’s epic Art of Fugue, Beethoven’s monumental Great Fugue, and Mozart’s effortlessly brilliant Adagio and Fugue – and they are joined by a work from an outstanding twentieth-century master of the form, Dmitri Shostakovich.

“…the greatest piece of music ever composed” Glenn Gould, pianist, on Bach’s final Fugue from The Art of Fugue.

Programme

• Bach: The Art of Fugue (extracts, arr. Dentler for chamber ensemble)
• Beethoven: Grosse Fuge in B flat Op.133
• Mozart: Adagio and Fugue K.546
• Shostakovich: String Quartet No.3 in F Op.63