Credits:

Scriabin / Aji

Description:

Graceful and noble performance! The Chiaroscuro Quartet performs Beethoven's String Quartets Nos. 4-6! The Chiaroscuro Quartet, led by Alina Ibragimova, one of the best violinists of our time, has already released its second Beethoven album. Formed in 2005, the quartet has been active in recording and performing Beethoven's works, and has recorded Haydn and Schubert for the BIS label to critical acclaim. All of their recordings have been highly acclaimed, including Haydn's String Quartet No. 77 "Emperor", which was ranked No. 1 in Record Geijutsu magazine's "500 Masterpieces of the New Era" special issue. The members of this famous group have remained the same since its formation, and have further evolved! The six string quartets of Op. 18. The album (KKC-6403 / BIS SA-2488) containing No. 1-3 was specially selected by Record Artists and was highly praised both in terms of performance and recording.The quartet's performance of Beethoven's early works is a masterpiece of Beethoven's personality and compositional structure. The sharp yet warm performance by the Chiaroscuro Quartet is a new masterpiece in this collection. (The name of the quartet, "Chiaroscuro," means "light and dark" or "shadow" to create an impression of contrast.

Tracklisting:

1.String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18 No. 4~I. Allegro, ma non tanto
2.String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18 No. 4~II. Andante scherzoso quasi allegretto
3.String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18 No. 4~III. Menuetto. Allegretto
4.String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18 No. 4~IV. Allegro - Prestissimo
5.String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18 No. 5~I. Allegro
6.String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18 No. 5~II. Menuetto
7.String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18 No. 5~III. Andante cantabile
8.String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18 No. 5~IV. Allegro
9.String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 18 No. 6~I. Allegro con brio
10.String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 18 No. 6~II. Adagio ma non troppo
11.String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 18 No. 6~III. Scherzo. Allegro
12.String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 18 No. 6~IV. La malinconia. Adagio - Allegretto quasi Allegro