String Quartet No. 1: I. Adagio - Con moto - Guarneri Quartet
String Quartet No. 1: II. Con moto
String Quartet No. 1: III. Con moto - Vivace - Andante - Tempo 1
String Quartet No. 1: IV. Con moto
String Quartet No. 2: I. Andante - Con moto - Allegro
String Quartet No. 2: II. Adagio - Vivace - Andante - Presto - Allegro - Vivo - Adagio
String Quartet No. 2: III. Moderato - Adagio - Allegro
String Quartet No. 2: IV. Allegro - Andante - Con moto - Adagio - Tempo I
Janácek's quartets are quite unlike most others written in the 20th century. The utter originality of his mature style (tiny rhythmic and melodic fragments not so much linked as placed side by side) combined with the ... more »strange figurations he presents the players make for unique listening. At first the province of Czech quartets, they have gradually become popular everywhere--players seem to enjoy the challenge they present. The Guarneri is the latest world-famous quartet to record them and offers memorable performances. The music is treated as if it were totally mainstream; the fragments are somehow joined into arching, expressive melodic lines, and the odd figurations transformed into reasonable facsimiles of accompaniments. This beauty comes at a price; when was the last time you were offered 41 minutes of music on a premium CD? --Paul Turok« less
Janácek's quartets are quite unlike most others written in the 20th century. The utter originality of his mature style (tiny rhythmic and melodic fragments not so much linked as placed side by side) combined with the strange figurations he presents the players make for unique listening. At first the province of Czech quartets, they have gradually become popular everywhere--players seem to enjoy the challenge they present. The Guarneri is the latest world-famous quartet to record them and offers memorable performances. The music is treated as if it were totally mainstream; the fragments are somehow joined into arching, expressive melodic lines, and the odd figurations transformed into reasonable facsimiles of accompaniments. This beauty comes at a price; when was the last time you were offered 41 minutes of music on a premium CD? --Paul Turok
CD Reviews
Listening for years
02/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These are masterpieces of the literature. Few 20th century
string quartets are full of light. These are. The reviewer below (above) from Australia who mentions "atonal"is as far off the mark as one could get. These are supremely tonal pieces, in fact very conservatively so. In fact,there is not an atonal moment in them, they are more firmly rooted in tonal centers than even Bartok, Hindemith and Ravel quartets of the early part of the century. The comments about small fragments are correct however. These are mosaic structures of great beauty. Other quartets which are crafted similarly are those by Stravinsky. Imagine a more Slavic flavor and you have Janacek."
From someone who knows
D. B. Rathbun | Washington, DC United States | 04/05/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This disc has impressed many listeners who are not familiar with either Janacek or Guarneri. I have known these quartets for years, have played the both of them, and had a recording already when Guarneri released this one. In sum, this recording is by far the best on the market. It is very nicely played, and beautifully recorded. If you don't know the pieces, the other reviews speak highly of them (my opinion seems to be of little value--most of the things I like very few other people also like) and the fact that other reviews are so unanimous in praising this piece suggests that it would be a good purchase. For those that know the pieces, I can recommend it to you as well."
A Discovery
gpercia | 07/30/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"How fortunate I bought this CD! I have discovered Janacek's string quartets, previously unknown to me. They are totally different - Janacek has his own voice, he cannot be compared to any other composer. There is nothing inaccessible here, moments of melody interweave quirky spasms and spiky rhythms. This is interesting music, unlike anything I have heard before. And the Guarneri Quartet is a most persuasive advocate of what for many listeners will be a new sound. Though brief, at 40 minutes, there is ample musical nourishment. I'm so glad I took a chance on an "unknown" quantity. Not for the faint of ear!"
Fantastic Interpretation Of Janacek's Quartets, But...
John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 12/17/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Fans of the Guarneri String Quartet will be pleased with this exquisite recording of Janacek's string quartets. These were recorded in the same Washington Heights, Manhattan studio used by the Emerson String Quartet for their critically acclaimed Beethoven string quartet cycle. A splendid choice since the acoustics are vividly warm. As for these performances, the Guarneri Quartet's performance is quite lyrical, emphasizing the melodic qualities of Janacek's music. I hadn't heard these string quartets before; undoubtedly they must rank as one of the finest works in the string quartet canon. Although these are exceptional performances recorded via Philips' latest digital state of the art technology, they come at a rather steep price. That's why I am giving this CD four stars instead of five, since it is a rather expensive acquisition for forty one minutes of recorded performances. Still, it is worth acquiring."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1