Haydn Quatuor 33

«Si la personnalité humaine est une énigme, la réunion de quatre individus reste, elle aussi, un mystère. Pour rendre perceptible aux générations futures l’essence de la musique, il faudra prendre conscience que l’art, demain, ne nécessitera pas tant de perfection que d’humanité. S’il y a un message du Quatuor Amadeus c’est bien celui-là. L’autre secret des Amadeus c’était l’intuition, la spontanéité.

KOMITAS QUARTET Established in 1924 at the Moscow State Tchaykovsky Conservatory by four talented Armenian students, Komitas State Quartet celebrates its 80th Anniversary in 2004. The oldest quartet of Viennese school among existing in the world has recently applied to Guinness World Records for official recognition of that fact and the request has been approved as unique. All musicians of the quartet play Guarnerius instruments, Andrea and Pietro, of 17 and 18 centuries and their skill is so brilliant that it has always created overwhelming response in all countries of the world they toured, over 70 in total. True ambassadors of Armenian culture, Komitas State Quartet produce a unique sound distinct, vivid and original.

Haydn's "The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross", originally written for orchestra, has undergone numerous adaptations, from oratorio to string quartet. Benoît Haller and Guillaume Humbrecht now present a version for string and vocal quartet. The new arrangement required some changes in the vocal parts, as well as the transcription of the second introduction for string quartet instead of wind ensemble. The eight musicians of the Chapelle Rhénane and the Quatuor 1781 perform the transparent "new creation" with great enthusiasm and attention to detail.