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Quartet to play at UA Crowder Hall

Ludwig van Beethoven died more than 150 years ago, but his undeniable gift of influencing and mesmerizing audiences lives on today.

The Petersen Quartet will pay homage to this musician and composer tonight, as part of the Beethoven Quartet Cycle sponsored by UA Presents.

Due to the age of the audience, the Petersen Quartet brings a fresh perspective to classical works.

The quartet, considered to be virtuosos by music critics throughout Europe, emerged from Germany in recent years.

Violinists Conrad Muck and Gernot Sussmuth, violist Friedemann Weigle and cellist Hans-Jakob Eschenburg are the world-renowned musicians who make up this quartet.

They have won many international prizes, including first prize at the 1986 International Chamber Music Competition in Florence, Italy, and second prize at the 1985 Evian Competition in France.

In 1988, the Peterson Quartet was appointed as Resident Quartet at the East Berlin Radio, a testament to the group's overwhelming public response.

"Ken Foster, the Director of UA Presents, decided to do entire Beethoven works," said Tappan King, publicist of UA Presents. "Therefore, we got the best quartets in the world."

Foster wanted to present the Beethoven Quartet Cycle in its entirety, performing what he says is possibly the "greatest body of Western European art music ever written."

The quartet has an active and busy international schedule, due to the repeated invitations from venues around the world. An extensive touring schedule includes concerts in Germany, Spain, Australia, Japan and the United States.

The Petersen Quartet, however, has never embarked on a Beethoven Cycle like this.

"The Cycle defies the human experience. There is optimism," said Foster. "As a celebration of the human spirit, few works of art can speak as these do of our essential nature."

The Petersen Quartet will also be performing tomorrow afternoon at 2, in addition to tonight's performance at 8.