Error processing SSI file

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
String Quartet in F, Op. 96, ‘American’ (1893) [25’44].
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-97)
String Quartet in C minor, Op. 51 No. 1 (1865-73) [31’04]
Škampa String Quartet (Pavel Fischer, Jana Lukášova, violins; Radim Sedmidunský, viola; Jonáš Krejčí, cello)
Rec Domovina Studio, Prague, on April 30th and June 28th-29th, 1998. DDD
SUPRAPHON SU3380-2 [56’54]
CD available for post-free online mail-order or you may download individual tracks. For some labels you can download the entire CD with a single click and make HUGE savings. The price you see is the price you pay! The full booklet notes are available on-line.

NOTE • Click on the button and you can buy the disc or read the booklet details • You can also access each track which you may then sample or down load. • Further Information.

The Škampa Quartet is quite an ensemble. They are quite obviously (and literally) at home in the music of Dvořak. This quartet followed chronologically on from the Ninth Symphony, but the more intimate sphere of chamber music led Dvořák to make a more personal and less dramatic statement. The composer’s nostalgia for his homeland must be heard within the context of the excitement of enjoying his surroundings, something the Škampa Quartet realises full well. The longing mood is presented without lingering indulgence.

The first movement is smooth and confident (track 1), while the Lento shows the quartet’s warm sound and their keen sense of balance and close rapport. The recording helps, in that while it is full, all the details come easily through, helping the music to move inevitably onwards. The Molto vivace third movement’s opening is delicately pointed, the Quartet’s highly developed sense of rhythm a joy (track 3). This in fact prepares the ground for the infectious finale, where a sense of fun in the dance rhythms prevails. A superb performance.

The Brahms makes for an ideal companion. The Škampa Quartet changes, chameleon like, into a highly-tensile group for the energy-ridden opening (Track 5): this concentration is to permeate the entire movement. The Romanze second movement (Poco adagio) acts as the perfect contrast (and the quartet plays with a true pianissimo). This is an enormously rewarding performance which obviously stems from prolonged study of the musical text.

Unhesitatingly recommended.

Colin Clarke


CD Price: £ 11.50 Post-free Air Mail World-wide
- Download Price:
£ 7.11
Buy CD:
Download all tracks:


FREE SOUND SAMPLES
(minimum 30 secs)
Click on the appropriate link. On the next page click on broadband beneath the CD cover

DVOŘÁK

Allegro ma non troppo

Lento

Molto vivace

finale

J. BRAHMS

Allegro - 10'40"

Romanze. Poco adagio

Allegretto molto moderato e comodo

Allegro - 5'43"



You require QuickTime to listed to samples.

Get a free QuickTime download here

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • You can sample only 30 seconds (or 15% if that is longer) of a given track. Select from the View tracks list. Each sample will normally start from the beginning but you can drag the slider to any position before pressing play. • PLEASE NOTE: If you are behind a firewall and the sound is prematurely terminated you may need to register Ludwig as a trusted source with your firewall software. •You will need Quicktime to hear sound samples. Get a free Quicktime download here • If you cannot see the "Sample All Tracks" button you need to download Flash from here.

Return to Index

Error processing SSI file