DESCRIPTION:
Béla Bartók:
String Quartets No 1 op. 7, Sz 40 & No. 5, Sz 102

Artists: Meta4 - Antti Tikkanen (Violin), Minna Pensola (Violin), Atte Kilpeläinen (Viola), Tomas Djupsjöbacka (Cello)

1 CD Full Price

Order-No. 98.036
EAN 4010276026860

• Meta4 is one of today's most exciting young string quartets
• Another recording of 20th century quartet masterworks from the fabulous Finns
• "An outstanding recording" Ensemble magazine review of CD 98.644 (Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 3, 4 & 7)
• "“Unlike most of their peers, Meta4 have found their way to the particular world of musicality that Shostakovich inhabits...Listen to the highly contrapuntal central section of the first movement of the Thrid Quartet and marvel at the range and precision of colour and articulation...I'm not sure I've ever heard the opening folk-like Allegretto of No. 4 more subtly explored” - Gramophone Magazine

The Finnish string quartet Meta4 has now achieved international recognition and regularly plays on the great stages of the world. In their new album, featuring the first and fifth quartets of Béla Bartók, Meta4 turns once again – as a follow up to their hugely successful 2011 recording of Shostakovich quartets – to a program of 20th century masterpieces.

There is little doubt that Bartók is among the boldest quartet
composers since Beethoven. His irrepressible expression will meet with the equally distinctive style of the four Finns and leads to incredibly expressive, emotionally charged interpretations. The uncompromising musical standards offered by these musicians take hold of the capricious ideas and unorthodox forms of the Hungarian master to deliver what will most likely be the string quartet album of the year.

Music:
Excerpts from:
String Quartet No. 5 Sz 102
I. Allegro
III. Scherzo. Alla bulgarese
IV. Andante 05:16
V. Finale. Allegro vivace