ABSTRACT
The Beethoven Society quartet was led by Sivori, accompanied – as the role was usually described – by Sainton, Hill and rousselot, and all the performances were prepared with extreme care. But Ernst's most exciting new venture was to lead the six concerts given by the Beethoven Quartet Society. Growing enthusiasm for Beethoven's quartets amongst members of the Select Society, made Alsager decide to found the Beethoven Quartet Society in 1845. Ernst's first engagement of 1851 was to perform piano trios by Beethoven and Mendelssohn at one of Halle's Classical and Chamber Concerts in Manchester. So many chamber performances of 'Classical Music' began to have an effect on Ernst's programmes as a soloist. Evidently encouraged by his successful performances of the Mendelssohn concerto in the previous two years, he now announced a public performance of the Beethoven concerto at his own concert on 2 June.
