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Belcea Quartet|Béla Bartók : String Quartets

Béla Bartók : String Quartets

Quatuor Belcea

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In this 2008 EMI Classics release, the Belcea Quartet presents Béla Bartók's six string quartets with phenomenal accuracy and assured style, though this British-based ensemble falls short in expression and fails to plumb the depths of these landmarks of twentieth century chamber music. The cycle makes extreme demands on a virtuoso string quartet's technique and experience, and these fine musicians obviously have the chops to handle the trickiest rhythms and the knottiest contrapuntal interchanges, and they possess a thorough understanding of Bartók's highly varied effects, moods, and musical allusions. Whether conveying the post-Romantic richness of the String Quartets No. 1 and No. 2, the expressionistic tensions of No. 3 and No. 4, or the arch neo-classicism of No. 5 and No. 6, the Belcea Quartet is quite aware of the developments in Bartók's oeuvre and creates credible representations of his changing styles. Yet at the emotional core, the group holds back as if on the brink of the abyss, and the passion, violence, and pathos of these brooding masterpieces are only partly suggested, never wholeheartedly embraced. If these quartets are primarily viewed as intellectual in nature, one may consider the performances to be sufficiently clear eyed and intelligent, with a level of poise and control that works rather well. Yet if the quartets are regarded as the profoundest expressions of Bartók's spirit or musical identity, then the Belcea's performances are not as inspired or penetrating as they need to be and are insufficiently compelling to rank with the greatest recordings.

© TiVo

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Béla Bartók : String Quartets

Belcea Quartet

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Quatuor à cordes n° 1 (Béla Bartók)

1
String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 7, Sz. 40: I. Lento
00:09:05

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

2
String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 7, Sz. 40: II. Allegretto
00:11:07

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

3
String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 7, Sz. 40: III. Allegro vivace
00:10:45

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

Quatuor à cordes n° 3, Sz. 85 (Béla Bartók)

4
String Quartet No. 3 in C-Sharp Minor, Sz. 85: I. Prima parte. Moderato
00:04:40

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

5
String Quartet No. 3 in C-Sharp Minor, Sz. 85: II. Seconda parte. Allegro
00:05:22

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

6
String Quartet No. 3 in C-Sharp Minor, Sz. 85: III. Ricapitulazione della prima parte. Moderato & IV. Coda. Allegro molto
00:04:59

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

Quatuor à cordes n° 5, Sz. 102 (Béla Bartók)

7
String Quartet No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Sz. 102: I. Allegro
00:07:38

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

8
String Quartet No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Sz. 102: II. Adagio molto
00:06:01

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

9
String Quartet No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Sz. 102: III. Scherzo. Alla bulgarese - Trio
00:04:54

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

10
String Quartet No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Sz. 102: IV. Andante
00:05:17

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

11
String Quartet No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Sz. 102: V. Finale. Allegro vivace - Presto
00:06:53

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

DISC 2

Quatuor à cordes n° 2, op. 17 Sz. 67 (Béla Bartók)

1
String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 17, Sz. 67: I. Moderato
00:10:06

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

2
String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 17, Sz. 67: II. Allegro molto capriccioso
00:07:46

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

3
String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 17, Sz. 67: III. Lento
00:08:33

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

Quatuor à cordes n° 4, Sz. 91 (Béla Bartók)

4
String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, Sz. 91: I. Allegro
00:06:11

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

5
String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, Sz. 91: II. Prestissimo, con sordino
00:02:56

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

6
String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, Sz. 91: III. Non troppo lento
00:05:59

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

7
String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, Sz. 91: IV. Allegretto pizzicato
00:02:48

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

8
String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, Sz. 91: V. Allegro molto
00:05:56

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

Quatuor à cordes n° 6, Sz. 114 (Béla Bartók)

9
String Quartet No. 6 in D Major, Sz. 114: I. Mesto - Vivace
00:07:40

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

10
String Quartet No. 6 in D Major, Sz. 114: II. Mesto - Marcia
00:08:04

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

11
String Quartet No. 6 in D Major, Sz. 114: III. Mesto - Burletta. Moderato
00:07:12

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

12
String Quartet No. 6 in D Major, Sz. 114: IV. Mesto
00:06:39

Bela Bartok, Composer - John Fraser, Producer - Belcea Quartet, String Quartet, MainArtist

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2008 Parlophone Records Limited

Album review

In this 2008 EMI Classics release, the Belcea Quartet presents Béla Bartók's six string quartets with phenomenal accuracy and assured style, though this British-based ensemble falls short in expression and fails to plumb the depths of these landmarks of twentieth century chamber music. The cycle makes extreme demands on a virtuoso string quartet's technique and experience, and these fine musicians obviously have the chops to handle the trickiest rhythms and the knottiest contrapuntal interchanges, and they possess a thorough understanding of Bartók's highly varied effects, moods, and musical allusions. Whether conveying the post-Romantic richness of the String Quartets No. 1 and No. 2, the expressionistic tensions of No. 3 and No. 4, or the arch neo-classicism of No. 5 and No. 6, the Belcea Quartet is quite aware of the developments in Bartók's oeuvre and creates credible representations of his changing styles. Yet at the emotional core, the group holds back as if on the brink of the abyss, and the passion, violence, and pathos of these brooding masterpieces are only partly suggested, never wholeheartedly embraced. If these quartets are primarily viewed as intellectual in nature, one may consider the performances to be sufficiently clear eyed and intelligent, with a level of poise and control that works rather well. Yet if the quartets are regarded as the profoundest expressions of Bartók's spirit or musical identity, then the Belcea's performances are not as inspired or penetrating as they need to be and are insufficiently compelling to rank with the greatest recordings.

© TiVo

About the album

© 2007 EMI Records Ltd. ℗ 2007 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd.

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