Schubert: Aus der Ferne Signum Quartett

• Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828): Lied aus der Ferne, D. 107:
• 1 Lied aus der Ferne, D. 107 (Arr. X. van Dijk for String Quartet) 01:29
• Rosamunde, Op. 26, D. 797:
• 2 Rosamunde, Op. 26, D. 797: No. 6, Hirtenmelodien (Arr. X. van Dijk for String Quartet) 01:16
• String Quartet No. 8 in B-Flat Major, Op. 168, D. 112:
• 3 I. Allegro ma non troppo 09:41
• 4 II. Andante sostenuto 08:14
• 5 III. Menuetto. Allegro - Trio 05:21
• 6 IV. Presto 05:42
• Lachen und Weinen, Op. 59 No. 4, D. 777:
• 7 Lachen und Weinen, Op. 59 No. 4, D. 777 (Arr. X. van Dijk for String Quartet) 01:49
• Die Götter Griechenlands, D. 677:
• 8 Die Götter Griechenlands, D. 677 (Arr. X. van Dijk for String Quartet) 03:39
• Wandrers Nachtlied II, Op. 96 No. 3, D. 768:
• 9 Wandrers Nachtlied II, Op. 96 No. 3, D. 768 (Arr. X. van Dijk for String Quartet) 02:09
• String Quartet No. 13 in A Minor, Op. 29, D. 804:
• 10 I. Allegro ma non troppo 13:51
• 11 II. Andante 06:59
• 12 III. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio 07:57
• 13 IV. Allegro moderato 07:41
• Du bist die Ruh, Op. 59 No. 3, D. 776:
• 14 Du bist die Ruh, Op. 59 No. 3, D. 776 (Arr. X. van Dijk for String Quartet) 03:43
• Total Runtime 01:19:31

Info for Schubert: Aus der Ferne

Hailed as one of the most adventurous and outstanding string quartets of today, both in the performance of modern pieces and the iron repertory, Signum Quartett now releases its first PENTATONE recording with an all-Schubert program.

Aus der Ferne illuminates the Romanticism and lyricism of this great master. By combining string quartets with lieder arranged for string quartet, the members of the Signum Quartett aim to show how Schubert’s instrumental and vocal music cross-pollinate each other. The fact that Schubert quotes openly from his own songs in his chamber music underlines the strong connection between the two, and this album takes this connection a step further. The concept for the album grew out of the Schubertiad, where chamber music and vocal works would be heard side by side in an intimate setting. A further idea was to complement one of the late quartets with an earlier one - perhaps lesser-known but not a lesser piece. The B-flat major quartet and the Rosamunde Quartet, both featured on this album, share a delicacy and fragility of spirit; convey a longing from afar. These instrumental works gain significance by being accompanied by the lieder arrangements, created by quartet member Xandi van Dijk. These arrangements present quintessential Schubert lieder such as Du bist die Ruh, Wandrers Nachtlied and Lachen und Weinen in a new, fascinating light.

Signum Quartett

Signum Quartet
Performances of unsparing expressivity, intimacy and vitality are hallmarks of the Signum Quartet, pairing music making of the subtlest order with playing of the highest intensity. The dramatic composition of their programmes is innovative and distinct, and is realised with uncompromising perfection in interpretations of effortless transparency. (“enormously intelligent and knowledgeable programming”—Rondo Magazin)

The quartet has been a welcome guest at the Wigmore Hall London, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Philharmonie de Paris, Konzerthaus Vienna, Philharmonie Cologne, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and at the BBC Proms, with partners such as Nils Mönkemeyer, Dominique Horwitz, Jörg Widmann, Daniel Ottensamer, Nicolas Altstaedt and Elisabeth Leonskaja. In 2023 the ensemble will gave its debut at Carnegie Hall in New York and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

The Signum Quartet’s discography is a testament to their stylistic range: Next to the greats of the quartet literature, they have recorded works by Wolfgang Rihm, Thomas Adès, Jörg Widmann and Kevin Volans. Their recording of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Second String Quartet Lost Prayers for ECM won Classical Album of the Year at the Estonian Music Awards 2021. “A dark flaring”, their follow-up album for ECM containing South African compositions, will be released in the spring of 2025.

Following their multi-award-winning album “Aus der Ferne” (Diapason D’Or, Opus Klassik), the Signum Quartet continued its Schubert cycle for PENTATONE with “Ins stille Land”, deepening its exploration of the fascinating connections between his string quartets and songs. (“The Signum’s ‘Death and the Maiden’ is up there with the best from a crowded field”—The Strad). 2023 saw the release of “Lebensmuth”, the final installment of their Schubert trilogy, which has garnered rave reviews and won a further OPUS Klassik in 2024 for Best Chamber Music Album of the Year.

In 2015, the quartet launched its innovative social media project #quartweet, where composers of all ages and abilities are invited to tweet a short quartet of 140 notes or less on Twitter. The project has received much media attention and been featured on Deutschlandfunk, BBC In Tune and BR U-21. Contributing composers include Bruno Mantovani, Grawemeyer Award winners Brett Dean and Sebastian Currier and Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw.

In 2024, the Signum Quartet launched their “Bridge the chasms that divide” project, commemorating 30 years since the fall of apartheid in South Africa. For this, they have invited some of South Africa‘s most original and powerful voices to reflect on their own experiences and journeys before and after 1994, including composers such as Abel Selaocoe and Dizu Plaatjies. This project saw premieres at the Cologne Philharmonie and Boulezsaal Berlin, and an album of the commissioned works will be released in 2026.

In 2022 the quartet established its Bremen-based project SIGNUM open space, supported by Neustart Kultur. This will be a site for rehearsals, recordings, workshops and education initiatives as well as an interactive exchange with the public. Additionally, there will be interdisciplinary projects such as exhibitions, readings, dance and seminars with renowned lecturers.

Booklet for Schubert: Aus der Ferne