Antonín Dvořák String Quartet No. 8, Miniatures, Cypresses Quartet Zemlinsky Quartet

• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904): String Quartet No. 8 in E Major, Op. 80, B. 57:
• 1 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 8 in E Major, Op. 80, B. 57: I. Allegro 08:47
• 2 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 8 in E Major, Op. 80, B. 57: II. Andante con moto 06:19
• 3 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 8 in E Major, Op. 80, B. 57: III. Allegro scherzando 04:33
• 4 Dvořák: String Quartet No. 8 in E Major, Op. 80, B. 57: IV. Finale. Allegro con brio 07:35
• Four Miniatures, Op. 75a, B. 149:
• 5 Dvořák: Four Miniatures, Op. 75a, B. 149: I. Cavatina - Moderato 02:59
• 6 Dvořák: Four Miniatures, Op. 75a, B. 149: II. Capriccio - Poco allegro 02:32
• 7 Dvořák: Four Miniatures, Op. 75a, B. 149: III. Romanza - Allegro 02:47
• 8 Dvořák: Four Miniatures, Op. 75a, B. 149: IV. Elegia - Larghetto 06:16
• Cypresses, B. 152:
• 9 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: I. I know that on my love to thee (Moderato) 03:57
• 10 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: II. Death reigns in many a human breast (Allegro ma non troppo) 02:27
• 11 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: III. When thy sweet glances on me fall (Andante con moto) 02:22
• 12 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: IV. Never will love lead us to that happy goal (Poco adagio) 04:40
• 13 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: V. The old letter in my book (Andante) 02:53
• 14 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: VI. You are my glorious rose (Andante moderato) 02:07
• 15 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: VII. I wander oft past yonder house (Andante con moto) 01:50
• 16 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: VIII. In deepest forest glade I stand (Lento) 02:45
• 17 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: IX. Thou only dear one, but for thee (Moderato) 02:57
• 18 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: X. There stands an ancient crag (Andante maestoso) 02:00
• 19 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: XI. Nature lies peaceful in slumber and dreams (Allegro scherzando) 02:24
• 20 Dvořák: Cypresses, B. 152: XII. You ask why my songs (Allegro animato) 02:45
• Total Runtime 01:14:55

Info for Antonín Dvořák String Quartet No. 8, Miniatures, Cypresses Quartet

An unusual compilation of chamber music by the composer of the New World symphony, featuring non well-know pieces singing old love tradition of his master Czech chamber music. Inventive rhythms with the vividness of revisited folklore, the haunting melancholy of the slow movements, instrumental Lieder The Czech Zemlinsky Quartet, as his elders, Pražák, today, Smetana and Prague City Quartets yesterday, are singing in their tree.

"Given that Dvorák produced 15 string quartets in all (including his op.1, with two violas), he might be considered to be disproportionately overlooked by many ensembles. Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the Prague-based Zemlinsky Quartet is hoping to perform as much of the Czech composer’s chamber music for strings as possible.The playing here is nicely burnished. Take the players’ sweet tone in the first movement of no.8 op.80 or, indeed, the light lyricism of almost any of the twelve Cypresses. There’s an apt storytelling quality to the playing, too, as in the quartet’s dumka-inspired slow movement, which is also delicately detailed in its inner parts. What we don’t get a chance to hear in this selection is much bite, and even the fast triplet accompaniment of ‘Death reigns in many a human breast’ (Cypresses) lacks urgency."

"Strangely omitted from the booklet notes, the Miniatures (perhaps better known in their arrangement for violin and piano as the Four Romantic Pieces) are played relatively straight, less heart-on-sleeve than one might hope. The recorded sound is transparent and, like the playing, not especially ‘up-front’." (Edward Bhesania, TheStrad)

Zemlinsky Quartet

Zemlinsky Quartet
Founded in 1994 while the members were still students, the ZEMLINSKY QUARTET has become a much lauded example of the Czech string quartet tradition. The Zemlinsky Quartet won the First Grand Prize at the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition in 2010. They have also been awarded top prizes at the Banff International String Quartet Competition (2007), Prague Spring International Music Competition (2005) and London International String Quartet Competition (2006), where they also received the Audience Prize. The Quartet was recipient of the Alexander Zemlinsky Advancement Award in 2008. Other notable prizes include Beethoven International Competition (1999), New Talent Bratislava (2003), Martinů Foundation String Quartet Competition (2004), and the Prize of Czech Chamber Music Society (2005). In the season 2016/17, Zemlinsky Quartet was appointed as the residential ensemble of the Czech Chamber Music Society.

While students at the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts Prague, the ensemble was coached by members of renowned Czech string quartets including the Talich, Prague, Kocian and Pražák Quartets. The ensemble also took part in several master classes including ProQuartet, in France and Sommerakademie in Reichenau, Austria where they were awarded First Prize for the best interpretation of a work by Janáček. From 2005 to 2008, the quartet studied with Walter Levin, the first violinist of LaSalle Quartet. Their recent mentor has been Josef Klusoň, the violist of the Pražák Quartet.

Zemlinsky Quartet is named after the Austrian composer, conductor and teacher Alexander Zemlinsky (1871-1942), whose enormous contribution to Czech, German and Jewish culture during his 16-year residence in Prague had been underrated until recently. His four string quartets (the second one being dedicated to his student and brother-in-law Arnold Schönberg) belong to the basic repertoire of the ensemble. Since 2005, the quartet has maintained a special relationship with the Alexander Zemlinsky Foundation in Vienna.

The Zemlinsky Quartet performs regularly in the Czech Republic and abroad (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Monaco, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Canada, USA, Brazil, Japan, South Korea). Recent major appearances of the Zemlinsky Quartet include London’s Wigmore Hall, Cité de la Musique in Paris, Library of Congress, Place des Arts in Montreal, Prague Spring Festival, and their New York debut on Schneider/New School Concerts Series. Their vast repertoire contains more than 200 works ranging from Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and Dvorak to works by contemporary composers. The members of the ensemble also perform as soloists and are individual prize-winners of several competitions (Concertino Praga, Spohr International Competition Weimar, Tribune of Young Artists UNESCO, Rotary Music Competition Nürnberg, Beethoven International Competition, Kocian International Competition).

Between 2006-2011, the Zemlinsky Quartet were Assistant Quartet-in-Residence at Musikakademie Basel in Switzerland. Music education is an important part of their professional life and during their tours, the quartet is often invited to give master classes to students of any age. They also perform educational concerts for students. Recently, František Souček and Petr Holman have been appointed Professors at the Prague Conservatory.

Booklet for Antonín Dvořák String Quartet No. 8, Miniatures, Cypresses Quartet