Marco Polo
Louis Spohr: String Quartets (Complete), Vol. 17
$19.99
Only 1 left
Details
- Composer
- SPOHR, LOUIS
- Artist
- CONCERTINO STRING QUARTET
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Marco Polo
- Released
- Jul 08, 2014
- Catalog #
- 8225352
- UPC
- 636943535226
About
Those who’ve followed Marco Polo’s Louis Spohr string quartet cycle from its inception will know what to expect from this final installment. Both the A major and B minor quartets are extremely well written for the medium, contain lovely tunes all around with lots of chromatic surprises, and feature the first violin working overtime in the virtuosity department. Some of the Op. 61 Allegretto finale’s modulations are as fancifully discursive as Schubert’s, while the Op. 30 Adagio owes more than a little to Mozart’s K. 428 quartet.
However, original touches leap out, such as the Op. 30 Menuetto’s full-bodied pizzicato accompaniments, and the D minor Variations’ ingenuous yet formidably difficult figurations. In fact, the long Op. 61 opening Allegro might be described as a violin concerto that gives no respite whatsoever to the soloist! The Moscow Concertino Quartet doles out plenty of warmth and expressive nuance in the way of vibrato and portamento, although the rather grainy sonics exaggerate the ensemble’s timbral stridency in loud passages and occasional intonation problems. Still, the performances’ virtues largely outweigh the drawbacks: sample the well-controlled transitions and sustained soft playing in the lengthy yet consistently interesting Op. 30 finale to hear the Moscow musicians at their best. Self-recommending to Spohr fans.
-- Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com
However, original touches leap out, such as the Op. 30 Menuetto’s full-bodied pizzicato accompaniments, and the D minor Variations’ ingenuous yet formidably difficult figurations. In fact, the long Op. 61 opening Allegro might be described as a violin concerto that gives no respite whatsoever to the soloist! The Moscow Concertino Quartet doles out plenty of warmth and expressive nuance in the way of vibrato and portamento, although the rather grainy sonics exaggerate the ensemble’s timbral stridency in loud passages and occasional intonation problems. Still, the performances’ virtues largely outweigh the drawbacks: sample the well-controlled transitions and sustained soft playing in the lengthy yet consistently interesting Op. 30 finale to hear the Moscow musicians at their best. Self-recommending to Spohr fans.
-- Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com
Tracklist 8 tracks
-
1 I. Allegro 12:34
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Allegro
- Duration
- 12:34
- Composer
- Louis Spohr
- Ensemble
- Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet
-
2 II. Adagio 07:25
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Adagio
- Duration
- 07:25
- Composer
- Louis Spohr
- Ensemble
- Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet
-
3 III. Menuetto: Allegretto 05:00
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Menuetto: Allegretto
- Duration
- 05:00
- Composer
- Louis Spohr
- Ensemble
- Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet
-
4 IV. Moderato - Vivace 08:43
- Track
- 4
- Title
- IV. Moderato - Vivace
- Duration
- 08:43
- Composer
- Louis Spohr
- Ensemble
- Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet
-
5 Variations in D Minor, Op. 6 10:35
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Variations in D Minor, Op. 6
- Duration
- 10:35
- Composer
- Louis Spohr
- Ensemble
- Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet
-
6 I. Allegro moderato 10:32
- Track
- 6
- Title
- I. Allegro moderato
- Duration
- 10:32
- Composer
- Louis Spohr
- Ensemble
- Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet
-
7 II. Adagio 05:56
- Track
- 7
- Title
- II. Adagio
- Duration
- 05:56
- Composer
- Louis Spohr
- Ensemble
- Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet
-
8 III. Finale: Allegretto 06:15
- Track
- 8
- Title
- III. Finale: Allegretto
- Duration
- 06:15
- Composer
- Louis Spohr
- Ensemble
- Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet