LaSalle Quartet Collection
Musical Interpretation in the Second Half of the 20th Century: The Example of the LaSalle Quartet
Although the LaSalle Quartet, active from 1946 to 1988, is regarded as one of the 20th century's leading string quartet ensembles, the number of its published recordings is relatively modest. However, the LaSalle Quartet Collection in Basel includes almost 500 tapes with concert, radio and rehearsal recordings that provide impressive documentation of the quartet's work; the earliest recordings were made in 1949, the latest in 1987.
In addition to these recordings, which alone represent an immense fund for the history of interpretation of the quartet literature in the second half of the 20th century, regarding both the classical-romantic repertoire and new music, two other types of documents are available. While the performance materials – annotated parts and playing scores – can be used to trace the interpretative approaches in writing, the extensive scrapbooks with concert programmes and reviews (1948–87) reflect the media's reactions.
The rich source material available can be studied both in terms of documentation (performance catalogues, etc.) and interpretation, with case studies on individual works, repertoires, or periods.
Further information about the collection and contact to the curator Simon Obert