Acies Quartett - Janácek: Die Streichquartette (2018)

The string quartets by Leos Janacek can without any doubt be counted among the highlights of chamber music works of the period between the two World Wars. His first quartet from 1923 titled 'Kreutzer Sonata' refers to the eponymous novella by Leo Tolstoy, a story about adultery and murder of jealousy, quickened by the power of music, and expression of Tolstoy's deeply Christian and anarchistic understanding of sociology. 'Intimate letters', Janacek's second string quartet composed in 1928, documents his discontent with his own conjugal life, depicting his long-term platonic affection for the likewise married Kamila Stosslova, with whom he exchanged more than 700 love letters. Professor Brian Finlayson gave the members of the Acies Quartet their initial instruction in chamber music. In 2005 and 2006 these four young musicians accepted invitations to New York to attend courses with members of the Juilliard Quartet. From 2008 to 2012 the ensemble studied at the Instituto Internacional de Musica de Camara de Madrid with Professor Gunter Pichler (Alban Berg Quartet). The Acies Quartet has played in its present formation since May 2016.