The Shanghai Quartet has appeared a number of times in Utah over the past half-dozen years, thanks to the Chamber Music Society of Salt Lake City.
Each time the quartet has performed here, it's been a varied program that, in addition to the standard repertoire, has frequently included at least one work by a Chinese-American composer.
However, when the foursome returns to Salt Lake City next week, they'll have a more traditional program. "The last two concerts we played in Salt Lake City, we did some Beethoven," first violinist Weigang Li said by phone from Texas, where the quartet was recording a new work. "But this time we're doing an all-Beethoven concert.' "
Li said he and his colleagues — second violinist Yi-Wen Jiang, violist Honggang Li, and cellist and newcomer to the group Nicholas Tzavaras — don't mind playing as much Beethoven as possible. "He is at the core of our repertoire. We enjoy his quartets."
Musicologists have divided Beethoven's compositional output into three chronological periods, and for its concert in Libby Gardner Concert Hall the Shanghai will play one work from each period — the F major, op. 18, no. 1; the F minor, op. 95, "Serioso"; and the C sharp minor, op. 131.
"We're playing a quartet from his early, middle and late periods," Li said. "You can hear how Beethoven matured as a composer, and how he developed the quartet form."
Li said that even though the op. 18 is written in a classical idiom, Beethoven was already quite mature as a composer. "You can hear trends from his middle and late periods. And the slow movement is incredible."
The other two works show what the composer was able to do with a well-established form. "The op. 95, at 21 minutes, is his most concise quartet," Li said. "It's very dramatic, and the moods change so quickly."
The C sharp minor, on the other hand, is one of Beethoven's most expansive. "The op. 131 is one of the greatest quartets ever written. It's very innovative and on the highest level."
No matter how often Li and his colleagues have played the late quartets, Li said that he still discovers something new in them every time he performs them. "There are some unbelievable things in them. Beethoven is in a class by himself in his late works. He was completely deaf by this time, and financially he was in a terrible state. But all of these things helped him to write this great music. And quartet players and quartet lovers are the benefactors."
Since the 2002-03 season, when the Shanghai celebrated its 20th anniversary, the group has been immersing itself in Beethoven's music. "We did eight complete (quartet) cycles during our 20th anniversary year," Li said.
That included the first Beethoven cycle ever played in China. "That was very important for us. We actually gave the premiere performances in China of some of the late quartets."
Those included the opp. 127, 131 and 132. "All of the music lovers, musicologists and students who came to our concerts were amazed by these works."
The Shanghai has also recently begun a long-term project of recording the complete Beethoven quartets for the Japanese label Camerata Records. "It's one hell of a project," Li said. "It's going to take us five or six years to finish, since we can only record in Japan or Europe, where the company has studios."
Li said the ensemble is working on concert programs for its 25th anniversary season in 2007-08, which will include a number of newly commissioned works. "It's hard to believe that we are one of the senior quartets now," Li joked. "People like to think that a quartet that has been together for so long is like an old marriage. There is some truth to it, but you can't take familiarity for granted, because you quickly get burned out. You have to renew yourself."
But two things will remain constant — the group's love for Beethoven, and its desire to return to Salt Lake City in the future. "Maybe we can come back and do a complete Beethoven cycle," said Li.
If you go . . .
What: Shanghai Quartet
Where: Libby Gardner Concert Hall, University of Utah
When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $20
Phone: 561-3999
E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com