Kronos Quartet Performs Alfred Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets

Alfred Schnittke (Orchestra), Hank Dutt (Artist), David Harrington (Artist), Joan Jeanrenaud (Artist), John Sherba (Artist), Kronos Quartet (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Alfred Schnittke
• Audio CD (May 19, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000006E4L
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,630 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Movement 1 - Kronos Quartet

2. Movement 2 - Kronos Quartet

3. Movement 3 - Kronos Quartet

4. Canon in Memoriam Igor Stravinsky, for string quartet - Kronos Quartet

5. Moderato - Kronos Quartet

6. Agitato - Kronos Quartet

7. Mesto

8. Moderato

9. Andante

10. Agitato

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. I. Lento

2. II. Allegro

3. III. Lento

4. IV. Vivace

5. V. Lento

6. Collected Songs Where Every Verse Is Filled with Grief

7. String Quartet No. 4: V. Lento - Kronos Quartet

8. Concerto for choir (Concerto for soprano & chorus): Collected Songs Where Every Verse Is Filled with Grief - Kronos Quartet

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

These quartets (and who else but the Kronos Quartet should record them) represent Schnittke at his polystylistic best. The Kronos Quartet captures the essence of Schnittke's multi-hued textures, but these are not friendly works. In fact, they are quite foreboding--but then so are the quartets of Shostakovich and Bartók. This is a two-disc set that also includes the brief "Canon in Memory of I. Stravinsky" and Collected Songs. Schnittke's best music contains its own instruction manual. Listen long enough and you'll get it. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars masterful anguish and dread, September 9, 2001

By 

R. Hutchinson "autonomeus" (a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kronos Quartet Performs Alfred Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets (Audio CD)

This is a powerful, harrowing cycle of string quartets, beautifully played by the Kronos Quartet, and recorded for Nonesuch. The First, from 1966, defiantly uses serialism, and this contributed to Schnittke's subsequent dissident status with the regime. He was forced to make his living doing film scores, which for some reason was allowed. The Second Quartet, from 1980, shows a remarkable continuity with the First, despite the long interval.

It is the Third Quartet (and we have here the recording previously issued on WINTER WAS HARD in 1987) from 1983 that marks Schnittke's turn to "polystylism," with references to Beethoven, Wagner and Shostakovich. Less harsh, this piece captures as well as any Schnittke's basic affinity with Mahler and Shostakovich, as opposed to the more radical innovations in 20th century music. The 35-minute Fourth Quartet is masterful, full of the anguish and dread so characteristic of Schnittke.

This is a splendid set that stands alongside the finest interpretations of Bartok, Shostakovich, Kurtag, Ligeti, and Carter. I consider Schnittke to be one of the best composers of the late 20th century -- see my SCHNITTKE: A LISTENER'S GUIDE for more recordings and reviews.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for lovers of 20th Century music, September 21, 1998

By 

Stanley S. Scott - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kronos Quartet Performs Alfred Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets (Audio CD)

Kronos plays these quartets with passion and fire. No matter how "abstract" the musical material, the emotional impact of the music is deeply felt. Some of the emotional material is very dark (and it's particularly poignant that this collection is coming out in the year of the composer's death), but I came away intensely exhilerated. Anyone who loves Bartok and Shostakovich should definitely have these as part of their collection.

33 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Kronos doesn't understand Schnittke!, November 3, 1999

By 

villegem "villegem" (canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kronos Quartet Performs Alfred Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets (Audio CD)

Listening to the Kronos quartet playing Schnittke's Fourth Quartet is purely an intellectual exercice. In their seriousness they don't seem to capture the emotional spirit of the late composer. Compare it to the intelligent, emotional rendition of the Fourth Quartet by the Alban Berg Quartet (dedicatee of the work) and you will measure the ocean between them... Kronos should smile for a change! On another note, the CD's booklet is interesting and fun too!
Again listen to the alternative: Alban Berg Quartet for the Fourth and Borodine for the Third and the First... The discovery is worth spending a bit more time and effort!

I recommend also the Arditti String Quartet sensitive and intelligent performance. The Schnittke second quartet is incredibly rich in colors. The pulsation is always present, the folk melodies underlying the rich texture are well defined and never forced. The fourth movement is simply out of this world.

This performance shames the fashionable, predictable, mono dimensional Kronos.