Janáček & Ligeti: Quartets

Featuring

Corina Belcea-Fisher
Axel Schacher
Krzysztof Chorzelski
Antoine Lederlin
Belcea Quartet
Leoš Janáček

György Ligeti

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Notable Performances

Ligeti's First String Quartet, 'Métamorphoses nocturnes,' was premiered in Vienna in 1958, two years after he escaped from Hungary.

Compositional Technique

György Ligeti's String Quartet No. 1, 'Métamorphoses nocturnes,' is a series of 'character variations without an actual theme,' based on total chromaticism but formally adhering to Viennese classical principles.

Historical Context

Ligeti composed his First String Quartet in Budapest during a communist dictatorship where 'modern' art was banned, leading him to compose in secret and keep the work hidden.

Composer Biography

Leoš Janáček's late works, including the two string quartets on this album, were significantly influenced by his obsessive love for Kamila Stösslová, who was 38 years his junior.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Janáček viewed his works as 'psychological dramas,' rather than programmatic or absolute music, believing that every note must be expressive.

Composition History

Janáček's Second String Quartet, 'Intimate Letters,' was inspired by his passionate love for Kamila Stösslová, with whom he exchanged over 650 letters.

Compositional Technique

Janáček's First String Quartet, 'Kreutzer Sonata,' tells a tragic love story using brief, compact, and contrasting motives, avoiding traditional development sections.