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Arnold Sch​ö​nberg: String Quartet in D Major, String Trio Op. 45, Phantasy for Violin Op. 47 / Gustav Mahler: Piano Quartet

by Pražák Quartet, Vlastimíl Holek, Sachiko Kayahara

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“Simply put, the Pražák Quartet is one of the the world’s finest ensembles, and this disc serves to reinforce that reputation. At its centrepiece is a performance of Schoenberg’s String Quartet No. “0”, a pre-opus where we see the 23-year-old composer under the spell of Brahms, who makes a piece that seethes with life, endless invention, quirky crags, and sudden twists. As with Brahms, a tempo marking doesn’t mean a single-focused mood for Schoenberg, but rather a framework within which all manner of variation can take place. The Andante, for example, has adagio moments that are offset beautifully by the frantic, driven portions, effortlessly negotiated by the Pražák players. Especially enjoyable is the ebullient “dance” of the final Allegro.
From this we move to Schoenberg’s String Trio: this quartet is on top of every detail, eschewing the blunt metallic “new music” sound so often favoured by many groups specializing in this repertoire for a rounded, almost playful interpretation. Not to say they don’t take it seriously - in fact, they take it seriously enough to have a little fun with it! The duo of pianist Sachiko Kayahara and Vlastimil Holek approach the Schoenberg Phantasy with the same reverence and musical goals, creating a performance that is gorgeous, touching, and brutal only when needed.
The young Gustav Mahler, not known as a composer of chamber music, wrote a Piano Quartet while still a student at the Vienna Conservatory. This movement is all that remains of his jejune effort, and this recording is of the first movement alone is an interesting chance for Mahler completists to get a sense of his young composer’s developing symphonic mind. Like Schoenberg, he too was under the direct spell of Brahms, as is evident from this thick-hued offering. Joined by pianist Kayahara, the Quartet plays this music with all the appropriate rough-and-tumble depth and fury, and the taut single movement serves as a wonderful opener for this beautiful and intelligently planned disc.”
ClassicsToday.com (13 July 2002)

Awards: Choc by Le Monde de la Musique, Diapason d’Or, 10 by Répertoire, Recommended by Classica, Opus d’Or, ClassicsToday.com

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released October 1, 2001

Pražák Quartet (Ensemble)
Vlastimíl Holek (Violin)
Sachiko Kayahara (Piano)

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Prazak Quartet France

The Pražák Quartet, one of today´s leading string quartets, was founded in 1972 by students at the Prague Conservatory.

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