Kronos Quartet - Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets (1998)

Alfred Schnittke is one of the most prolific and interesting composers of the 20th century. Heir to the Russian traditions of Shostakovich, Schnittke's music is both steeped in the past and wildly experimental. Schnittke composed in serial, free atonal, neoclassical and religious styles, and thus it is hard to get a grasp on him by listening to just one work. This collection of the complete string quartets allows us to gain a perspective on much of his compositional genius, from the serial 1st Quartet to the almost mystical 4th.
Schnittke's music is dense and emotionally extreme, powerful and at times angry. The Kronos Quartet handles the material with a mastery we have come to expect from this fine ensemble. After hearing many CDs in which Kronos is amplified, it is refreshing to know that their acoustic sound and technique are just as nuanced as ever. And they have the unique ability to make difficult music--which in other hands might sound dry and academic--so incredibly hip. Angular, intense Schnittke never sounded better.