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Chamber

 

The LaSalle Quartet was a renowned classical music ensemble that was active from 1946 to 1987. The quartet was founded by Walter Levin, who served as the group's first violinist until its disbandment. The other members of the quartet included Henry Meyer (violin), Peter Kamnitzer (viola), and Jack Kirstein (cello). The LaSalle Quartet was known for its innovative interpretations of classical music, particularly the works of composers such as Beethoven, Bartók, and Schoenberg. The quartet's performances were characterized by their technical precision, emotional depth, and intellectual rigor. The quartet's founding can be traced back to 1946, when Walter Levin, a young violinist from Germany, arrived in the United States. Levin had fled Nazi Germany in 1938 and had spent several years in Palestine before coming to America. In the U.S., Levin studied at the Juilliard School and the Mannes College of Music, where he met Henry Meyer, Peter Kamnitzer, and Jack Kirstein. The four musicians formed the LaSalle Quartet in 1946, taking their name from the LaSalle Hotel in Chicago, where they gave their first public performance. The quartet quickly gained a reputation for their innovative interpretations of classical music, and they soon began to attract a following among music lovers and critics alike. Over the years, the LaSalle Quartet performed at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, the Royal Festival Hall in London, and the Berlin Philharmonic. They also made numerous recordings, many of which are still considered to be definitive interpretations of the works they performed. One of the highlights of the LaSalle Quartet's career was their performance of the complete string quartets of Beethoven. The quartet performed all 16 of Beethoven's quartets over the course of several years, and their recordings of these works are still considered to be among the best ever made. Another notable achievement of the LaSalle Quartet was their work with the composer György Ligeti. The quartet premiered several of Ligeti's works, including his String Quartet No. 2 and his String Quartet No. 1 "Métamorphoses nocturnes." The quartet's performances of Ligeti's music were praised for their technical virtuosity and their ability to capture the composer's complex and often challenging musical language. The LaSalle Quartet also received numerous awards and honors over the course of their career. In 1973, they were awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for their recording of Bartók's String Quartets Nos. 1-6. They were also awarded the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in 1983, in recognition of their contributions to contemporary music. Despite their many achievements, the LaSalle Quartet disbanded in 1987, after more than 40 years of performing together. The quartet's members went on to pursue other musical projects, but their legacy lives on through their recordings and the many musicians who were inspired by their innovative approach to classical music.

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