- Purchase a product from the Music Store sold by Amazon.co.uk and receive Ł1 to use on an album download in our MP3 Store. Here's how (terms and conditions apply)
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
BBC Music Magazine
Op. 1 String Quintet - his earliest extant chamber work. Its opening movement is imbued with the melancholy, if not the mastery, of Schubert's Rosamunde String Quartet in the same key of A minor; and its finale is somewhat naively based on the main theme of Mozart's great G minor Piano Quartet. It is difficult to imagine that Dvorák would have wanted this promising, but immature piece ever to see the light of day. (It was first published as late as 1943.) The E flat Quintet, Op. 97, was composed more than 30 years later, in the wake of the American Quartet, Op. 96. One of the themes of its fine slow movement was apparently conceived as a setting of 'My country, 'tis of thee', though elsewhere the work is imbued, like its more famous companion-piece, with the pentatonic melodies Dvorák heard while in the USA. The Vlach Quartet responds to this music very well, and is particularly impressive in the variations of Op. 97, as well as the nostalgic coda of its opening movement. There are times, however, when the Czech players' approach seems rather safe and sedate: the scherzo of Op. 97 is much lighter and more transparent, at a considerably quicker tempo, in the hands of the Vienna Sextet, whose rumbustious finale also has greater vigour. True, the EMI disc is three times the price of this newcomer, but for your money you also get the genial A major Sextet, Op. 48.
Performance ****
Sound ****
© BBC Music Magazine 2001
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon U.K.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.6 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Splendid performances of one masterpiece and a surprisingly attractive rarity, 15 July 2010
By G.D. - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Dvorák: String Quintets, Op.1 & 97 (Audio CD)
The Vlach quartet has given us a very fine series of Dvorak quartets for Naxos, but the two discs that comprise their series of string quintets might, on the whole, be even more valuable. The early op.1 quintet is very rarely heard, and it might on the whole lack the melodic distinction of Dvorak's later music, but it is still a very rewarding and attractive work and - as opposed to several of his contemporaneous works - it doesn't outstay its welcome. In fact, Dvorak gives us a structurally strong and balanced work, full of panache, energy and good ideas. It certainly deserves an occasional airing, and in performances as appealing as this one it comes across as a very satisfying work.
The op. 97 quintet is still, of course, a superior work; in fact, this so-called `American' quintet must rank among the composer's most marvelous chamber pieces; the tunes are simply wonderful, vigorously energetic and catchy, imaginative and atmospheric, and the music full of marvelous textures and colors in addition to impeccable formal construction. An indisputable, deeply absorbing masterpiece, and I am happy to report that the Vlach quartet (augmented with the violist Kyselak) is absolutely riveting; evocative and imaginative, yet determined and brisk, with wonderfully clear lines. The sound quality is quite excellent as well, so this recording is on the whole heartily recommended. A distinguished release.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
well done, 7 Oct 2005
By G. Metcalf - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Dvorák: String Quintets, Op.1 & 97 (Audio CD)
The Vlach quartet, Prague does a wonderful job with these two pieces. Opus 1 is pleasant and tunefull but Opus 97 is the real stand-out. As the other reviewer mentions this was one of several works written during Dvorak's stay in the U.S. and it shares the attributes making those such great works: folksy tunes and nostalgic moods among other things. The recorded sound here is excellent and allows you to easily hear the fantastic job done by each musician. This CD is easy to recommend highly.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fine performance - 4 1/2 stars, 18 Feb 2008
By J. Grant "Reviews for the average Joe" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Dvorák: String Quintets, Op.1 & 97 (Audio CD)
While this may not be the very best performance of Op.97 that I've heard (I slightly prefer the Talich or Leipzig), it is, nevertheless, very good. When you take into consideration the price, it becomes even more attractive.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
