20th consecutive year The 20th Beethoven String Quartet [9 pieces

New Year's Eve, where it should be like this (Es muss sein!)

　This year marks the 20th time that three string quartets and chamber music lovers gathered in the small hall of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan to experience Beethoven's mid- and late-period string quartets and other works all at once in one extraordinary afternoon. The 21st century, which began with a vague sense of uncertainty, was rocked by a massive earthquake and nuclear power plant accident, and then plunged into a wartime-like abnormal situation with the Corona disaster. But fortunately, Beethoven's string quartet continued to ring out on New Year's Eve in Ueno, no matter what kind of year-end it was. Ludwig Q, Classical Q, Sawa Q, Q Excelsior, SQARCO, Q Integra, Hono Q...

　The Classical Quartet, which has participated since the first time, is a master who has made the notes engraved in his brain into his own flesh and blood, and has yet to stop deepening its depths in the 39 years since its formation, with members who have remained steadfast for 35 years. Quartet Excelsior, which joined the second quartet as a young member, is now a middle-aged quartet that knows well the difficulties and joys of string quartet, and has decided to welcome a new young man and step into the music that he truly desires without hesitation. The young quartet is in the midst of exploring how to deal with Beethoven, with each member experiencing the music scene in his or her own way.

　On New Year's Eve, a day when we stop the flow of time for a while and think about the days of the past year, three string quartets, each walking on three different timelines, expose their current state. Then the year ends and begins again, with Beethoven declaring, "Es muss sein! "So it shall be!" Kazu Watanabe (music journalist)