3 Things to Know About Prince Galitzin’s Commission of Beethoven’s Late Quartets

Prince Nikolai Galitzin was a Russian aristocrat and amateur cellist. He commissioned the first three of Beethoven’s late string quartets.

The commission came via a letter in November 1822. Galitzin reached out directly to Beethoven to request the works.

These quartets are among Beethoven’s most profound and challenging compositions. They represent a major shift in his late style, pushing the boundaries of the string quartet form.