Spanish composer José Peris Lacasa recently created a new version of Haydn’s “Seven Last Words” in which for the first time the leading part is taken by a solo voice, in this case a mezzo-soprano. The world premiere took place at the Royal Court in Madrid during Holy Week in 2008. It was performed, as it is here, by the award winning Henschel Quartet – a new signing for the Challenge Classics label – on the Spanish court’s unique Stradivarius collection of instruments. The singer is the German mezzo Susanne Kelling.
The Henschel Quartet is a German string quartet comprising the Henschel siblings, Christoph and Markus (violinists) and Monika (violist), and cellist Mathias Beyer-Karlshøj.
The quartet has given many première performances of works of contemporary composers from Günter Bialas to Manfred Trojahn and played premières of recently discovered works of famous past composers. It belongs to the select group of guest ensembles who regularly play at the Spanish royal palace in Madrid and perform concerts on the 4 Stradivarius instruments that belong to the palace. Mezzo-soprano Susanne Kelling was recently named “Cavaliere dell`Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà Italiana” O.S.S.I.), the highest decoration recognized to expatriates for outstanding contribution to the Italian people.
