Axel Rudi Pell - Flyin High

The fifth part of the quartet is called Cavatina, which immediately sends us to vocal music. A small, mostly lyrical aria was considered Cavatina in the 18th century; during its execution, a special penetration of intonation was required. This is what Beethoven prescribes for the performers: Adagio molto espressivo - “Slow, very expressive,” and above each part there is also a purely vocal indication of sotto voce - in an undertone. Karl Holtz recalled many years later: “The crown of all quartet compositions and his favorite play was Cavatina from the Quartet in B Flat Major. He composed it truly in mournful tears (in the summer of 1825) and admitted to me that his own music had never produced such an impact on him and that even the memory of this play again caused tears in him. ”