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Product Description
CD Description
With the Prokofiev pieces featured on this album the Quartet has for the first time entered the field of the Russian (or, if you will, international) repertoire. Prokofiev plunged into writing his first quartet in 1930 during his first sojourn in America on the basis of a commission from the Library of Congress in Washington DC. The 'classical' sounding work blends the easily distinguishable inspiration by Beethoven's quartets and the typically Prokofievian pungency and lyricism. The duet, written in Paris, is an inconspicuous yet masterly small-scale work of art and alongside Bartok's 44 violin duets ranks among the paramount opuses of this genre. The second quartet came into being in 1941 in the Caucasus, where the Soviet government had moved the artistic elites and their families so as to protect them against the Nazi onslaught. Here Prokofiev came across untouched folk material which he sensitively, humbly and with the precise degree of artistic stylisation incorporated into the 'Kabardinian' quartet. Their sheer musicality and ferocious youthful energy make the Pavel Haas Quartet an ideal interpreter of these gems of Prokofiev's chamber oeuvre.
About the Artist
The Pavel Haas Quartet, one of the very finest chamber ensembles of the present time, earned for their first two CDs of the quartets of Janáek and Pavel Haas numerous prestigious accolades (Classic FM Gramophone Award, BBC Music Magazine Award, Cannes MIDEM Classical Award, etc.).
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Prokofiev is not particularly associated with chamber music but the two string quartets are remarkable works. The first is very typically Prokofiev with its rhythmic vigour, swift changes of mood and texture and rather astringent lyricism. He may have studied Beethoven's quartets when preparing these works but don't expect anything Beethovenian about the finished result. The Pavel Haas Quartet play with great virtuosity - ensemble is razor sharp, balance is superb and there is generally meticulous attention to detail. Occasionally I felt they overdid the dynamic range. Quite often forte passages are played fortissimo so when the genuine fortissimo sequences appear there is no discernible change. And I would have liked the Andante finale to have been a shade slower to bring out its bleak beauty more effectively. The second quartet is again typically Prokofiev though more the Prokofiev of the ballet scores and pieces like Winter Bonfires. This too was brilliantly played though I felt some of the genial open-air feel of the first movement was lost in a rather aggressive interpretation of accents and dynamics. The very beautiful second movement was well done though for me a little of the humour and carefree quality of the middle section was lost by some unmarked slowing down at the ends of phrases. But this was brilliant and exhilarating playing of rewarding and enjoyable repertoire.
8 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A disc worth playing from beginning to end.
Like a generous sandwich with a light and refreshing filling - the Sonata for Two Violins (1932) - this new recording from the Pavel Haas quartet seems an ideal choice for hearing the chamber music of Prokofiev; presenting as it does three faces to this brilliant Russian harlequin.
The String Quartet No.1 (1930/31) could be by no one else. It has all of the composer's humour and vitality, together with his mischievousness. After a happy period studying Beethoven's masterpieces of the genre, he comes up with a three movement quartet that concludes with its slow movement, against all the 'rules' of classical decorum.
By contrast, for his second quartet of 1941, it is as if Prokofiev, evacuated with so many other Russian artists to the Kabardinian region, chooses to take a holiday from the public persona of Sergey Prokofiev and instead becomes a selfless promoter of apparently undiscovered folk tunes belonging to the region. His quartet includes several in a work difficult to play but not wishing to 'improve' upon them for an urbane audience. You probably wouldn't guess the composer if served this music blind.
Nor would the Sonata for Two Violins (1932) shout "Prokofiev!" necessarily. I would probably have guessed Shostakovich and despite attempts to slight this short piece as an occasional item, it strikes me as lofty and spiritually refreshing. It doesn't sound like Vivaldi, but it was Venice I thought of while listening. Venice and crisp white wine.
Draw your own conclusions, but be sure to pay a call on this latest excellent disc from a young promising quartet.
Like a generous sandwich with a light and refreshing filling - the Sonata for Two Violins (1932) - this new recording from the Pavel Haas quartet seems an ideal choice for hearing the chamber music of Prokofiev; presenting as it does three faces to this brilliant Russian harlequin.
The String Quartet No.1 (1930/31) could be by no one else. It has all of the composer's humour and vitality, together with his mischievousness. After a happy period studying Beethoven's masterpieces of the genre, he comes up with a three movement quartet that concludes with its slow movement, against all the 'rules' of classical decorum.
By contrast, for his second quartet of 1941, it is as if Prokofiev, evacuated with so many other Russian artists to the Kabardinian region, chooses to take a holiday from the public persona of Sergey Prokofiev and instead becomes a selfless promoter of apparently undiscovered folk tunes belonging to the region. His quartet includes several in a work difficult to play but not wishing to 'improve' upon them for an urbane audience. You probably wouldn't guess the composer if served this music blind.
Nor would the Sonata for Two Violins (1932) shout "Prokofiev!" necessarily. I would probably have guessed Shostakovich and despite attempts to slight this short piece as an occasional item, it strikes me as lofty and spiritually refreshing. It doesn't sound like Vivaldi, but it was Venice I thought of while listening. Venice and crisp white wine.
Draw your own conclusions, but be sure to pay a call on this latest excellent disc from a young promising quartet.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This cd has won various plaudits including an award from Gramophone. Thus the experts consider this cd very highly. I am in no way a musical expert but know what I like. This cd is definitely one I shall play a lot. Dvorak wonderfully blends a cultured classical style with strong folk elements which always appeals to me and is very evident in the two quartets on this cd. The Pavel Haas Quartet are an excellent young quartet who I have had the pleasure to hear twice while playing at the Sage in Gateshead. They are excellent across the quartet repertoire but excel particularly in Czech music. I hope that they will record all Dvorak's music for small string groups and that they are all as good as this one.
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