Alma Quartet - String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26 | String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34 (2021)
BAND/ARTIST: Alma Quartet
- Title: String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26 | String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34
- Year Of Release: 2021
- Label: Challenge Classics
- Genre: Classical
- Quality: flac lossless (tracks) +Booklet
- Total Time: 00:49:34
- Total Size: 212 mb
- WebSite: Album Preview
Tracklist
01. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26: I. Allegro
02. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26: II. Intermezzo - Allegretto con moto
03. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26: III. Larghetto - Lento
04. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26: IV. Waltz (Finale) - Tempo di Valse
05. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34: I. Allegro moderato
06. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34: II. Scherzo - Allegro molto
07. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34: III. Sostenuto. Like a Folk Tune
08. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34: IV. Finale - Allegro
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) was a genius. Naturally he was most widely known and rewarded as one of the founding composers of Hollywood film music, but he is not a particularly well-known composer in the classical music world. His three String Quartets are surely masterpieces and can be seen as modern tone poems imbued with beautiful melancholy and Viennese charm. A child prodigy, Korngold wrote some of the most heart-wrenching melodies, which are sure to leave any listener longing for more.
His String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26 (1933) was written just before Korngold moved to Hollywood and is full of musical imagery of Vienna, with gestures towards the waltzes of Johan Strauss II as well as the intricate lyricism of Richard Strauss. A fierce anti-serialist, Korngold was determined that it was still possible to stretch the boundaries of tonality without adapting to the 12-tone technique. The String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34 (1945) is full of themes that he used in his film scores and was written when Korngold was suffering from deep depression. The quartet is much darker.
Why did the Alma Quartet choose to tackle Korngold’s music for this unique project of a direct-to-disc recording on vinyl? The music resonates deeply with its members, as it represents the epitome of late romanticism and lyrical expression. Each member of the Alma Quartet has a profound love for romantic music and after listening to some recordings of his quartets they knew instantly these were the perfect fit for us. It was definitely a challenge to understand the idiom in Korngold’s writing. What makes a direct-to-disc recording so special? Without doubt, it is the most honest way of recording. What the listener can hear is what you get, with no editing whatsoever. It is thus a studio recording with all of the nuances and thrill of a live performance. Evidently, the process is extremely strenuous and challenging. It is necessary to make sure that the performance is as perfect as can be, but you also have to take into account the fact that perfection is simply not feasible. But the question is whether or not perfection is truly exciting and honest.
01. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26: I. Allegro
02. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26: II. Intermezzo - Allegretto con moto
03. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26: III. Larghetto - Lento
04. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26: IV. Waltz (Finale) - Tempo di Valse
05. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34: I. Allegro moderato
06. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34: II. Scherzo - Allegro molto
07. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34: III. Sostenuto. Like a Folk Tune
08. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34: IV. Finale - Allegro
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) was a genius. Naturally he was most widely known and rewarded as one of the founding composers of Hollywood film music, but he is not a particularly well-known composer in the classical music world. His three String Quartets are surely masterpieces and can be seen as modern tone poems imbued with beautiful melancholy and Viennese charm. A child prodigy, Korngold wrote some of the most heart-wrenching melodies, which are sure to leave any listener longing for more.
His String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26 (1933) was written just before Korngold moved to Hollywood and is full of musical imagery of Vienna, with gestures towards the waltzes of Johan Strauss II as well as the intricate lyricism of Richard Strauss. A fierce anti-serialist, Korngold was determined that it was still possible to stretch the boundaries of tonality without adapting to the 12-tone technique. The String Quartet No. 3, Op. 34 (1945) is full of themes that he used in his film scores and was written when Korngold was suffering from deep depression. The quartet is much darker.
Why did the Alma Quartet choose to tackle Korngold’s music for this unique project of a direct-to-disc recording on vinyl? The music resonates deeply with its members, as it represents the epitome of late romanticism and lyrical expression. Each member of the Alma Quartet has a profound love for romantic music and after listening to some recordings of his quartets they knew instantly these were the perfect fit for us. It was definitely a challenge to understand the idiom in Korngold’s writing. What makes a direct-to-disc recording so special? Without doubt, it is the most honest way of recording. What the listener can hear is what you get, with no editing whatsoever. It is thus a studio recording with all of the nuances and thrill of a live performance. Evidently, the process is extremely strenuous and challenging. It is necessary to make sure that the performance is as perfect as can be, but you also have to take into account the fact that perfection is simply not feasible. But the question is whether or not perfection is truly exciting and honest.
Year 2021 | Classical | FLAC / APE
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