Cuarteto Italiano

Spain's Cuarteto Casals has resolved to mark its 20th anniversary in a suitably ambitious way, by recording a complete cycle of the Beethoven string quartets and taking them on the road throughout Europe, paired with new works composed especially for the occasion. The group has rightfully gained attention for its performances of core repertoire from Haydn to Schubert, and this first volume of the cycle does not disappoint.

The three string quartets of Johannes Brahms are difficult beasts to master. On the one hand, they contain some of the densest, richest harmonization in the repertoire. This can be quickly followed by moments of utter transparency and serenity. The Cuarteto Casals, however, only delivers on one half of this sonic spectrum. When it comes to the lighter sound quality as heard, for example, in the beginning of the third movement of the A minor quartet or the fourth movement of the B flat major quartet, the sound quality produced by the Cuarteto Casals seems just about right.

Haydn’s Seven Last Words – a cycle of sacred adagios – has been lucky on record. There are excellent recordings no matter how you like the piece: in oratorio form (Jordi Savall, dramatic), the original orchestral (Riccardo Muti, dark-hued) or – most abundant – wide-ranging string quartet interpretations, from the poetic and period-instrument (Quatuor Mosaïques) to the intensely inward (Rosamunde Quartett). Cuarteto Casals has a quirkily formal sense of phrasing that can take some getting used to. Yet this group – from Spain, where the piece was premiered in 1787 – offers an alluring rendition in terms of timbre and texture, with the quartet’s period bows drawing out a sound that’s complex and vulnerable.

Mozart: Flute Quartets, an enchanting musical journey performed by the talented Cuarteto Almendra and released by VDE-GALLO, captures the timeless brilliance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's compositions. The quartet's impeccable musicianship breathes life into Mozart's intricate flute quartets, showcasing a perfect blend of virtuosity and sensitivity. Cuarteto Almendra's nuanced interpretation adds a refreshing and vibrant dimension to these classical masterpieces, making the album a delightful exploration for both connoisseurs and newcomers to Mozart's oeuvre.

Spanish Composer Ruperto Chapí was born in 1851 in Villena, Alicante province, where he began his musical studies at an early age. Showing an exceptional talent, he moved to Madrid at the age of sixteen, continuing his studies at the capital’s Conservatorio under the tutelage of Emilio Arrieta. After stints in Rome and Paris (where he met Saint-Saëns), he came back to Spain in 1880, where he began his affiliation with the world of zarzuela (Spanish lyric opera), eventually becoming one of the major exponents of this genre in the history of Spanish music. It is with his zarzuela La Tempestad (1882) that he achieves his first national success. Many more would follow during his lifetime, with over a hundred lyric works, including the one that made Chapí a household name in Spain, La Revoltosa (1897).

If you've never heard the music of George Crumb before, you are in for a treat. Well, treat may not be exactly the right word; perhaps "an experience" would be a better way to put it. Written in 1970 and 1974, Crumb's Black Angels: Thirteen Images from the Dark Land for electric string quartet and Makrokosmos III: Music for a Summer Evening for 2 amplified pianos and percussion are the classical music equivalent of psychedelic rock.