This almost unknown Sibelius catches a glimpse of what a world famous Composer does between his masterworks, As I see it, a lot. Well done, casalQuartet! And then a little Carl Nielsen....
Somehow Carl Nielssen is mentioned in the announcement of the last two movements. This is not correct. All five movements belong to the 'Voces Intimae' from Jean Sibelius: 0:10 Andante - 0:40- Allegro Moderato 6:45 Vivace 9:23 Adagio molto 20:38 Allegro ma pesante 26:56 Allegro
This is by the most beautiful interpretation I have ever heard of this already beautiful string quartet! Thank you so much for the upload! I mean 0:48-1:40 is just fantastic.
Great sound quality on this recording. The interpretation is quite different to the version I have at home by the Fitzwilliam Quartet- definitely opened up some new areas of the piece for me.
I am so happy that You are playing the string quartet one of one my favorit composers! Thank You for that. If You would'nt mind I would try to give some suggestions. Otherwise I would be quiet... Thanks for a night of big delight!!!! Jürgen (old German Musician)
Sibelius was very ill when he composed his unique quartet. That made him severely depressive, a mood that was usual for him. This quartet exhibits both firm architectrural priciples, since Sibelius had firm classical roots, but this does not prevent at all the intensity of his intimate feelings to be quite clear in this music.
It was not his only quartet. According to this Wikipedia list of his works: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Jean_Sibelius he composed a surprisingly large quantity of chamber music in his youth, including 3 string quartets (this is the 4th), 2 piano quartets and 4 piano trios. Even the andante festivo was initially written for string quartet. One of his early ones can be heard here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-b_D9uhfWS64.html and a piano quintet here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AtPwq2W-LRM.html I have listened to these and others (several are also on RU-vid); I find none indifferent, and some remarkable. His early chamber music definitely ought to become better-known.
@@brkahn I know that. It is most often the case for great composers. For instance, the piano/string quartet by G/ Mahler is sometimes included in integrals of his works. The same can be said for many chamber pieces with woodwinnds (and even mandolin°°) by Beethoven. Chamber music is a very good training for young composers, leading them to refine strictness in voices wiriting. Nevertheless, most often these woeks were not published - and as such never receivied opus numbers - which is a way for the composer to consider as being outside the range of their works deserving to be known by contemporaries and posterity. This is what I meant when writing "unique quartet".
@@gerardbegni2806 Unique means that it is the only one. Moreover, what you say is wrong: his third string quartet has opus 4. Anyway, my point is that his early chamber music is remarkable, whatever his intentions. Composers are not always right about the value of their works.
@@brkahn Tou are fully right. I completely missed this op. 4, which is a trascrpription of ge third movement of a work for string orchestra dated 1894. Actually, it is true that - in spite of the vast majority of his thpughput - his peculier way of thinking and writing music is well suited to chamber music writing, in a quite original wat.
@@gerardbegni2806 I don't think it is a transcription of the third movement of a work of 1894; it is from 1890, has 4 movements, and lasts a little over 30 minutes. As far as I see, it is the contrary; its third movement was later arranged for orchestra. I recommend that you listen to it (I put the link in my first message). The linked piano quintet, contemporary, is even more interesting.
