Thymos Quartet, Adriana Kucerova & Christoph Eschenbach
Description
Three romantic works by Dvorák from the 1880's receive soulful performances by the Paris-based Thymos Quartet, pianist Christoph Eschenbach, and soprano Adriana Kucerova.
"Think about a young man in love – this is what they are about", wrote Dvorák to his publisher when he was preparing Cypresses for string quartet. The title is taken from a volume of poems by Gustav Pfleger-Moravsky which inspired the composer's earlier burst of song writing in 1865, eight of which later became the cycle Love Songs Op. 83, and 12 of which were arranged for string quartet, five of them presented here. Recalling youthful love letters that are preserved and cherished, Love Songs and Cypresses combine beautiful melodic simplicity with the technique of a composer who was, by the mid-late 1880s, at the height of his powers. Cypresses in their string quartet form were premiered on 6 January 1888, on a bill which also featured the first performance of the Piano Quintet, Op 81.
The Paris-based Quatuor Thymos – named after an ancient Greek term meaning "spiritedness" – comprises four First Prize winners from the Paris and Lyon conservatoires. Following acclaimed performances throughout France and in other European capitols, they were invited to perform at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago by Christoph Eschenbach. This recording brings the foursome together with the eminent pianist, who also accompanies the Slovakian soprano Adriana Kucerova whose star is rapidly in the ascendant.
Personnel: Thymos Quartet, Adriana Kucerova (soprano), Christoph Eschenbach (piano)
Tracklisting
Sonnambula
Christoph Croise; Daniel Schnyder
Bruce Wolosoff
Daniel-Ben Pienaar
Sean Jones, Nicholas Phan, London Symphony Orchestra, Joseph Young
National Philharmonic, Curtis Stewart, Michael Repper
Theatro
Susan Narucki, Curtis Macomber
Tibor Gyenge, Michael Schoch
Oda Voltersvik
Nils Anders Mortensen
Lars Notto Birkeland, Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps, Peter Szilway, Eirik Raude
Ben van Oosten
Gudrun Sidonie Otto, Elvira Bill, Georg Poplutz, Thilo Dahlmann Goldberg Baroque & Vocal Ensemble,
Maxim Rysanov; Dasol Kim; Roman Mints; Kristina Blaumane; BBC Concert Orchestra; Dobrinka Tabakova
Paul Smith
