Haydn: Quartet in E-flat major for Strings, Hob. III:38, Op. 33, No. 2, “The Joke”

SOMETHING TO KNOW:

The Op. 33 set of quartets was Haydn’s first written for a new, lucrative publishing contract, and with them he kicked off two decades of increasing international recognition.

SOMETHING TO LISTEN FOR:

The “Joke” Quartet’s nickname comes from the very end of the piece, which keeps the audience guessing until its uncertain conclusion.

Recorded live in Alice Tully Hall on October 20, 2019.
Video produced by Ibis Productions.