Title: String Quartets Artist: Zemlinsky Quartet Label: Evil Penguin Records Product Type: COMPACT DISCS UPC: 608917725629 Genre: Classical Artists Release Date: 2025-04-04 Number of Discs: 1
Smetana's two string quartets could be said to be the first programmatic chamber music pieces ever written. The first quartet is a remarkable work with a very strong connection to Czech musicians. It belongs among the real treasures of Czech chamber music. The main characteristic of the second quartet is it's intensity of musical ideas, as the composer was deaf and close to the end of his life. The Dance of Comedians illustrates the famous era of Smetana ´s being considered the Czech national composer. An idiomatic account by one of Czech leading string quartets.
Tracks: 1.1 String Quartet No. 1 E Minor "From My Life"~Allegro vivo appassionato 1.2 String Quartet No. 1 E Minor "From My Life"~Allegro moderato à la Polka 1.3 String Quartet No. 1 E Minor "From My Life"~Largo sostenuto 1.4 String Quartet No. 1 E Minor "From My Life"~Vivace 1.5 String Quartet No. 2 D Minor~Allegro 1.6 String Quartet No. 2 D Minor~Allegro moderato. Andante cantabile 1.7 String Quartet No. 2 D Minor~Allegro non più moderato ma agitato e con fuoco 1.8 String Quartet No. 2 D Minor~Finale. Presto 1.9 Bartered Bride~Dance of Comedians
