Beethoven’s many moods are revealed in the works on this program. The B-flat Major Quartet is the most forward-looking of his early quartets and is particularly noteworthy for its finale, subtitled “La Malinconia” ("Melancholy")—an unforgettable dialogue between anguish and joy. The A-Minor Quartet was written at a time of personal tumult, and an uneasy tone runs through the work. Its magnificent third movement, however, is a heartfelt song of thanks for recovery from illness that becomes a radiant celebration of newfound strength.