Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of classical chamber music with the Alban Berg Quartett's "Hommage," a meticulously curated collection released on September 14, 2007, under Warner Classics. Spanning nearly five hours, this album is a testament to the quartet's virtuosity and the enduring appeal of string quartet repertoire.
The album opens with Haydn's "Emperor" Quartet, a cornerstone of the classical canon, followed by Mozart's "Hoffmeister" Quartet, showcasing the elegance and wit of the classical era. The Alban Berg Quartett's interpretations are both precise and expressive, bringing out the nuances of each composition.
The journey continues with a piece originally attributed to Haydn but later discovered to be by Hoffstetter, adding a layer of historical intrigue. The quartet then tackles Beethoven's monumental "Razumovsky" and "Op. 135" quartets, recorded live at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, capturing the raw energy and emotional depth of these masterpieces.
Mendelssohn's "Op. 13" Quartet and Smetana's "From My Life" offer a romantic contrast, highlighting the quartet's versatility and emotional range. The album also features works by lesser-known but equally compelling composers like Janáček and Rihm, demonstrating the Alban Berg Quartett's commitment to exploring the breadth of the string quartet repertoire.
Bartók's "Quartet No. 4" and Ravel's "String Quartet" showcase the quartet's technical prowess and interpretive depth, while Berg's "Lyric Suite" offers a deeply personal and expressive journey. The album concludes with Stravinsky's "Double Canon" and Rihm's "String Quartet No. 4," recorded live at the Vienna Konzerthaus, adding a contemporary edge to the collection.
"Hommage" is not just a compilation of pieces but a carefully crafted exploration of the string quartet genre, showcasing the Alban Berg Quartett's exceptional artistry and the timeless beauty of classical music.
Tracks
Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III:77 "Emperor": I. AllegroJoseph Haydn, Alban Berg Quartett
Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III:77 "Emperor": II. (a) Poco adagio, cantabileJoseph Haydn, Alban Berg Quartett
Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III:77 "Emperor": II. (b) Variation IJoseph Haydn, Alban Berg Quartett
Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III:77 "Emperor": II. (c) Variation IIJoseph Haydn, Alban Berg Quartett
Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III:77 "Emperor": II. (d) Variation IIIJoseph Haydn, Alban Berg Quartett
Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III:77 "Emperor": II. (e) Variation IVJoseph Haydn, Alban Berg Quartett
Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III:77 "Emperor": III. Menuetto. AllegroJoseph Haydn, Alban Berg Quartett
Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III:77 "Emperor": IV. Finale. PrestoJoseph Haydn, Alban Berg Quartett
Mozart: String Quartet No. 20 in D Major, K. 499 "Hoffmeister": I. AllegrettoWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Alban Berg Quartett
Mozart: String Quartet No. 20 in D Major, K. 499 "Hoffmeister": II. Menuetto. AllegrettoWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Alban Berg Quartett
Mozart: String Quartet No. 20 in D Major, K. 499 "Hoffmeister": III. AdagioWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Alban Berg Quartett
Mozart: String Quartet No. 20 in D Major, K. 499 "Hoffmeister": IV. AllegroWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Alban Berg Quartett
Hoffstetter: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 3 No. 5: II. Andante cantabile "Serenade" (Formerly Attributed to Haydn as Hob. III:17)Roman Hoffstetter, Alban Berg Quartett
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: I. Allegretto (Live at Konzerthaus, Wien, 1989)Ludwig van Beethoven, Alban Berg Quartett
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: II. Vivace (Live at Konzerthaus, Wien, 1989)Ludwig van Beethoven, Alban Berg Quartett
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: III. Lento assai, cantante tranquillo (Live at Konzerthaus, Wien, 1989)Ludwig van Beethoven, Alban Berg Quartett
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135: IV. Grave ma non troppo tratto - Allegro (Live at Konzerthaus, Wien, 1989)Ludwig van Beethoven, Alban Berg Quartett
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59 No. 1 "Razumovsky": I. AllegroLudwig van Beethoven, Alban Berg Quartett
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59 No. 1 "Razumovsky": II. Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzandoLudwig van Beethoven, Alban Berg Quartett
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59 No. 1 "Razumovsky": III. Adagio molto e mestoLudwig van Beethoven, Alban Berg Quartett
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59 No. 1 "Razumovsky": IV. Thème russe. AllegroLudwig van Beethoven, Alban Berg Quartett
Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13, MWV R22: I. Adagio - Allegro vivaceFelix Mendelssohn, Alban Berg Quartett
Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13, MWV R22: II. Adagio non lentoFelix Mendelssohn, Alban Berg Quartett
Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13, MWV R22: III. Intermezzo. Allegretto con moto - Allegro di moltoFelix Mendelssohn, Alban Berg Quartett
Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13, MWV R22: IV. PrestoFelix Mendelssohn, Alban Berg Quartett
Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor "From My Life": I. Allegro vivo appassionatoBedřich Smetana, Alban Berg Quartett
Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor "From My Life": II. Allegro moderato à la PolkaBedřich Smetana, Alban Berg Quartett
Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor "From My Life": III. Largo sostenutoBedřich Smetana, Alban Berg Quartett
Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor "From My Life": IV. VivaceBedřich Smetana, Alban Berg Quartett
String Quartet No. 2, 'Intimate Letters': I. AndanteLeoš Janáček, Alban Berg Quartett
String Quartet No. 2, 'Intimate Letters': II. AdagioLeoš Janáček, Alban Berg Quartett
String Quartet No. 2, 'Intimate Letters': III. ModeratoLeoš Janáček, Alban Berg Quartett
String Quartet No. 2, 'Intimate Letters': IV. AllegroLeoš Janáček, Alban Berg Quartett
Bartók: String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, Sz. 91: I. AllegroBéla Bartók, Alban Berg Quartett
Bartók: String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, Sz. 91: II. Prestissimo, con sordinoBéla Bartók, Alban Berg Quartett
Bartók: String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, Sz. 91: III. Non troppo lentoBéla Bartók, Alban Berg Quartett
Bartók: String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, Sz. 91: IV. Allegretto pizzicatoBéla Bartók, Alban Berg Quartett
Bartók: String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, Sz. 91: V. Allegro moltoBéla Bartók, Alban Berg Quartett
Ravel: String Quartet, M. 35: I. Allegro moderato - Très douxMaurice Ravel, Alban Berg Quartett
Ravel: String Quartet, M. 35: II. Assez vif - Très rythméMaurice Ravel, Alban Berg Quartett
Ravel: String Quartet, M. 35: III. Très lentMaurice Ravel, Alban Berg Quartett
Ravel: String Quartet, M. 35: IV. Vif et agitéMaurice Ravel, Alban Berg Quartett
Lyric Suite: I. Allegretto giovaleAlban Berg, Alban Berg Quartett
Lyric Suite: II. Andante amorosoAlban Berg, Alban Berg Quartett
Berg: Lyric Suite for String Quartet: III. Allegro misterioso - Trio estaticoAlban Berg, Alban Berg Quartett
Lyric Suite: IV. Adagio appassionatoAlban Berg, Alban Berg Quartett
Lyric Suite: V. Presto delirandoAlban Berg, Alban Berg Quartett
Lyric Suite: VI. Largo desolatoAlban Berg, Alban Berg Quartett
Stravinsky: Double Canon for String Quartet "Raoul Dufy in memoriam"Igor Stravinsky, Alban Berg Quartett
Rihm: String Quartet No. 4: I. Agitato, allegro - Alla marcia, allegro ma non troppo (Live at Vienna Konzerthaus, 1990)Wolfgang Rihm, Alban Berg Quartett
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