Szymanowski - String Quartet 2 [Carmina String Quartet]
Now this is a truly unique String Quartet, and like a lot of Szymanowski music, it's so inventive and original, especially the opening at the start, you just know you're onto something special when it starts, these are also fairly short Quartets, each lasts just 17 or 18 minutes long, always cast in three movements, the only grumble is that the whole disc only lasts 45 minutes, but it's more than made up for in quality, i'm so glad i'm slowly delving into more of Szymanowski, i wrote about this in my Blog nearly 2 years ago [24th October 2010].
The Carmina String Quartet started up in Switzerland in the early Eighties, i get the idea they're Swiss, so i'm not sure, they are still together and coming up to their 30th anniversary, they recorded this disc in 1991, the front cover shows the Quartet in full sunshine [photo by Jakob Thur], though not truly inspiring, it's quite well laid out.
Like i said, the first movement is just so inspired, it has you on the edge of your seat with excitement, the very opening is one of those 'wow!, what is this?' moments, an opening where the second violin and the viola play a quiet pulsating rhythm, over which the first violin plays an unearthly and eerie siren song, .
Here's the Belcea String Quartet playing the first movement on YouTube.
Here's the Belcea String Quartet playing the first movement on YouTube.
