ST. LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET
Joseph Haydn String Quartets Op. 76 Emperor & Sunrise
St. Lawrence String Quartet Podcast
Final Notes & Lasting Legacy: The St. Lawrence String Quartet on Korngold, Haydn, and Geoff Nuttall
In this moving episode of Musical Minds & Missions (M³), host Sarah Cahill is joined by pianist Steven Prutzman and members of the St. Lawrence String Quartet—Owen Dalby, Leslie Robertson, and Christopher Costanza—for a conversation centered on two recordings from Phenotypic Recordings: Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Piano Quintet and Joseph Haydn’s “Sunrise” Quartet.
At its heart, this episode is a tribute to founding violinist Geoff Nuttall. Recorded during the final chapter of his life, these sessions capture a remarkable blend of intensity, humor, and total commitment to the music. The group reflects on their origins, their deep connection to Haydn, and the artistic bond that defined their sound. They also share why, after Nuttall’s passing, the quartet chose to bring its journey to a close—honoring the chemistry that made the ensemble what it was.
The music featured in this episode is available on Bandcamp and all major streaming platforms, with links in the show notes.
The show-stopping farewell album from the beloved St. Lawrence String Quartet, stunning performance of two of Joseph Haydn’s monumental quartets from his Op. 76: No. 3 "Emperor" and No. 4 "Sunrise".
The St. Lawrence String Quartet, album in residence at Stanford University, has been hailed as one of the leading ensembles specializing in the performance and recording of the works of Haydn. According to The New Yorker, “…no other North American quartet plays the music of Haydn with more intelligence, expressivity, and force…”
SLSQ’s celebrated founding violinist Geoff Nuttall passed away in 2022 from pancreatic cancer. Phenotypic Recordings will donate all proceeds from this album to the Geoff Nuttall Memorial Fund for cancer research at Stanford University.
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ST. LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET
“Modern,” “dramatic,” “superb,” “wickedly attentive,” “with a hint of rock 'n roll energy” are just a few ways critics describe the musical phenomenon that is the St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ). The SLSQ is renowned for the intensity of its performances, its breadth of repertoire, and its commitment to concert experiences that are at once intellectually exciting and emotionally alive.
Founded in Toronto in 1989, the SLSQ were renowned for their high-energy, deeply expressive, and “take no prisoners” approach to all music, and beloved for nurturing an engaged and inclusive musical community. As Alex Ross of The New Yorker aptly noted, “the SLSQ is remarkable not simply for the quality of their music-making, exalted as it is, but for the joy they take in the act of connection.”
Well-known for performing a broad and eclectic repertoire, SLSQ were especially regarded for their commitment to the music of Haydn and new music.
Album Information
COMPOSER: Joseph Haydn
TITLE: String Quartets Op. 76 Emperor & Sunrise
ARTISTS: St. Lawrence String Quartet (Geoff Nuttall, violin; Owen Dalby, violin; Lesley Robertson, viola; Christopher Costanza, cello)
RELEASE DATE: 5/31/2023
SUMMARY: The show-stopping farewell album from the beloved St. Lawrence String Quartet, stunning performance of two of Joseph Haydn’s monumental quartets from his Op. 76: No. 3 "Emperor" and No. 4 "Sunrise".
CREDITS: Recorded at Bing Concert Hall in Stanford University, December 14 and 15, 2021 | Produced and Engineered by Mark Willsher | Album design by Aryahi Naomi Onaga | Cover photo by Eric Cheng
DEDICATION: Dedicated with love to Livia, Jack and Ellis
MUSIC WITH A MISSION: Phenotypic Recordings will donate all proceeds to the Geoff Nuttall Memorial Fund for pancreatic cancer research at Stanford University
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String Quartet in C Major Op. 76, No. 3 "Emperor"
I. Allegro
II. Poco Adagio. Cantabile
III. Menuetto. Allegro
IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet in B-flat Major Op. 76 No. 4 "Sunrise"
I. Allegro con spirito
II. Adagio
III. Menuetto. Allegro
IV. Finale. Allegro ma non troppo)
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