Dvořák A. The Essential String Quartets / Panocha Quartet (3CD)

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)

CD 1

Antonín Dvořák - String Quartet No. 10 in E flat major Op. 51 (B 92, 1878-79) 31:28

1. I. Allegro, ma non troppo 10:40

2. II. Dumka (Elegia). Andante con moto. Vivace 7:19

3. III. Romanza. Andante con moto 6:09

4. IV. Finale. Allegro assai 7:04

Antonín Dvořák - String Quartet No. 11 in C major Op. 61 (B 121, 1881) 37:09

5. I. Allegro 13:47

6. II. Poco adagio e molto cantabile 7:24

7. III. Scherzo. Allegro vivo. Trio 8:25

8. IV. Finale. Vivace 7:21

CD2

Antonín Dvořák - Cypresses / for string quartet / sine Op. (B 152, 1887) 36:25

1. I. I know that on my love to thee. Moderato 4:20

2. II. Death reigns in many a human breast. Allegro ma non troppo 2:23

3. III. When thy sweet glances on me fall. Andante con moto 2:42

4. IV. Never will love lead us to that glad goal. Poco adagio 4:28

5. V. The old letter in my book. Andante 3:09

6. VI. You are my glorious rose. Andante moderato 2:32

7. VII. I wander oft past yonder house. Andante con moto 2:22

8. VIII. In deepest forest glade I stand. Lento 3:10

9. IX. Thou only dear one, but for thee. Moderato 2:47

10. X. There stands an ancient crag. Andante maestoso 2:21

11. XI. Nature lies peaceful in slumber and dreaming. Allegro scherzando 2:33

12. XII. You ask me why my songs are racing. Allegro animato 3:00

Antonín Dvořák - String Quartet No. 12 in F major "American" Op. 96 (B. 179, 1893) 26:25

13. I. Allegro ma non troppo 8:58

14. II. Lento 8:17

15. III. Molto vivace 3:51

16. IV. Finale. Vivace ma non troppo 5:07

CD3

Antonín Dvořák - String Quartet No. 13 in G major Op. 106 (B 192, 1895) 38:17

1. I. Allegro moderato 9:17

2. II. Adagio ma non troppo 10:47

3. III. Molto vivace 7:07

4. IV. Finale. Andante sostenuto - Allegro con fuoco 10:56

Antonín Dvořák - String Quartet No. 14 in A flat major Op. 105 (B 193, 1895) 32:35

5. I. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro appassionato 7:57

6. II. Molto vivace 6:30

7. III. Lento e molto cantabile 8:07

8. IV. Allegro non tanto 9:52

Domovina Studio, Prague: CD 1 (5-8) December 1995; CD 2 (1-5) November 1992; (6-12) January 1993; (13-16) December 1994, Czech Philharmonic Choir rehearsal hall, Prague: CD 1 (1-4) June 1985; CD 3 (1-4) November 1984 Rudolfinum, Prague: CD 3 (5-8) October 1983

Every work of art is exposed to the inexorable test of time. In the case of the majority of composers, precious few works enjoy enduring popularity. Yet in this respect Dvorak is one of the glorious exceptions. When it comes to his 15 string quartets alone, more than one third of them are still an integral part of the repertoire of numerous contemporary ensembles. All the mature opuses - starting with the "Slavonic" Quartet in E flat major (written for the famous Florentine Quartet) through the most celebrated, the "American", to the final opuses 106 and 105, whose musical language reflects the composer's return home from overseas - have been repeatedly explored and performed. The Panocha Quartet, whose exceptional qualities have for over four decades been acclaimed by audiences in four continents, have devoted to Czech quartet creation and Dvorak in particular with great care. This selection from the complete Dvorak works features the most beautiful quartet opuses and is a must-have for all fans of this genre.

The "American" quartet and other Dvorak gems - beautiful and seminal.

(Supraphon 2011)