Chiara String Quartet - Bartók by Heart (2016)

Tracklist

CD1
01. String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7, BB 52: I. Lento
02. String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7, BB 52: II. Allegretto
03. String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7, BB 52: III. Introduzione. Allegro - Allegro vivace
04. String Quartet No. 3, Sz. 85: A. Prima parte. Moderato -
05. String Quartet No. 3, Sz. 85: B. Seconda parte. Allegro -
06. String Quartet No. 3, Sz. 85: C. Ricapitulazione della prima parte. Moderato -
07. String Quartet No. 3, Sz. 85: D. Coda. Allegro molto
08. String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102: I. Allegro
09. String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102: II. Adagio molto
10. String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102: III. Scherzo. Alla bulgarese
11. String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102: IV. Andante
12. String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102: V. Finale. Allegro vivace

CD2
01. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 17, Sz. 67: I. Moderato
02. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 17, Sz. 67: II. Allegro molto capriccioso
03. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 17, Sz. 67: III. Lento
04. String Quartet No. 4, Sz. 91: I. Allegro
05. String Quartet No. 4, Sz. 91: II. Prestissimo, con sordino
06. String Quartet No. 4, Sz. 91: III. Non troppo lento
07. String Quartet No. 4, Sz. 91: IV. Allegretto pizzicato
08. String Quartet No. 4, Sz. 91: V. Allegro molto
09. String Quartet No. 6, Sz. 114: I. Mesto - Vivace
10. String Quartet No. 6, Sz. 114: II. Mesto - Marcia
11. String Quartet No. 6, Sz. 114: III. Mesto - Burletta. Moderato
12. String Quartet No. 6, Sz. 114: IV. Mesto

Following on the success of its 2014 album, Brahms by Heart, the Chiara String Quartet performs the six string quartets of Béla Bartók entirely from memory for this 2016 Azica release. The time wasn't so long ago when Bartók's demanding quartets were among the most difficult chamber pieces, and memorizing them would have seemed imprudent, if not impossible. Yet this youthful ensemble has thoroughly mastered the technical side of the quartets as well as any contemporary ensemble has, and the feat of memorization seems rather more of a positive selling-point than an ill-advised stunt. The Chiara plays with high energy and the freedom to experiment with expression, though their excessive use of portamento at the opening of the String Quartet No. 1 is unfortunate. For the most part, the Chiara has a strong feeling for Bartók's moods, particularly in the fragile "night music" movements of the String Quartet No. 4 and the String Quartet No. 5, though the group is most vigorous and exciting in the Allegro molto capriccioso of the String Quartet No. 2, an ideal track for sampling Bartók's bracing sonorities and the Chiara's powerful playing.

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