3 Things to Know About Beethoven’s Razumovsky Quartets

Count Razumovsky commissioned the three quartets in 1806 The Russian ambassador to Vienna specifically requested Russian themes be included.

Beethoven incorporated Russian themes in the first and third quartets He obliged the count’s request in those two works, but not the second.

The quartets are named after the count They are known as the Razumovsky Quartets, Op. 59.