Quatuor Girard

For the Beethoven bicentenary, we have invited the excellent Quatuor Girard, a large sibling ensemble from Avignon and grand-nephews and grand-nieces of writer René Girard. Having performed the complete cycle several times, they have this music in their blood. Grégoire Girard, violin Agathe Girard, violin Hugues Girard, viola Lucie Girard, cello “You must know, my dear fellow, that Marseille was the first city in France to understand Beethoven’s great works. In this respect, it preceded Paris by five years.” Who said this? Hector Berlioz. If the author of the Symphonie fantastique said it, who are we to doubt it! He adds: “The last quartets of Beethoven were already being played and adored in Marseille when we were still treating the sublime author of these extraordinary compositions as a madman.” Alexis Joseph Rostand, judge, cellist and mayor of Marseille, had in fact formed a string quartet with his brothers, and they adored this music. For the Beethoven bicentenary, we have invited the excellent Quatuor Girard, a large sibling ensemble from Avignon and grand-nephews and grand-nieces of writer René Girard. Having performed the complete cycle several times, they have this music in their blood. PROGRAM BEETHOVEN 11 a.m. op. 18 no. 1 op. 59 no. 3 “Razumovsky” 3 p.m. op. 18 no. 3 op. 74 “The Harps” 6 p.m. op. 18 no. 6 op. 132 no. 15