LAVISTA String Quartets:
No. 1, “Diacronia”;
No. 2, “Reflejos de la noche”;
No. 3, “Música para mi vecino”;
No. 4, “Sinfonias”;
No. 5, “7 Invenciones”;
No. 6, “Suite en 5 partes”
Cuarteto Latinoamericano • TOCCATA TOCC 0106 (75:27)
The influences on the work of Mario Lavista (b. 1943), Mexico's leading contemporary composer, range from mediaeval, religious and folk music to modernism. His music has a powerful sense of atmosphere and colour — the Second String Quartet, Reflejos de la noche, is played entirely on harmonics — and a vigorous rhythmic drive reminiscent of the quartet-writing of Shostakovich.
Cuarteto Latinoamericano, string quartet
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The playing of the Cuarteto Latinoamericano is accomplished, free yet tightly directed from start to finish. Indeed, the quartet was effectively the inspiration, the impetus certainly, for most of these quartets. The players seem to have the music in their blood. It would be hard to think of more persuasive accounts.
The booklet that comes with this CD is informative without feeling any need to rush, proselytise or over-advocate. That must be in keeping with what one senses is an aspect of Lavista's confident and generous personality. To be judged sui generis for sure, these six works are not only different enough one from another, but also amazingly creative enough to repay repeated hearings. As an indication of new directions for the medium, they make every sense. As beautiful works in their own right, they are superb.
-- Mark Sealey, MusicWeb International
