The Vilnius String Quartet, formed in 1965, is a highly acclaimed Lithuanian ensemble that has won numerous awards, including the highest prize at the International String Quartet Competition in Liege in 1972.
Composer Biography
Jurgis Karnavičius, a significant figure in Lithuanian music, composed the first Lithuanian opera of the independence period, Gražina, in 1933.
Recording & Production
This album features world première recordings of Jurgis Karnavičius's String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2.
Critical Reception
Jurgis Karnavičius's music, though formed by the St. Petersburg Conservatory, was unique in the Lithuanian context and did not immediately gain a following, making him 'a stranger at home and at home among strangers'.
Recording & Production
The Vilnius String Quartet was commissioned by the Ondine label to record the complete string quartets by Jurgis Karnavičius.
Composer Biography
Jurgis Karnavičius studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with notable composers such as Anatoly Lyadov, Jāzeps Vītols, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Alexander Glazunov, and Maximilian Steinberg.
Historical Context
During World War I, Jurgis Karnavičius was mobilized into the Russian army in 1914 and spent three years as a prisoner of war in a camp near Vienna.
