Parker Quartet / Kim Kashkashian - Gyögy Kurtág: Six Moments Musicaux & Officium Breve / Antonín Dvořák; String Quintet OP. 97 (October 22, 2021 ECM)

On their ECM New series debut, the Boston-based Parker Quartet, hailed by the Washington Post for “exceptional virtuosity and imaginative interpretation,” play music of György Kurtág and are joined by violist Kim Kashkashian, one of the quarter’s early mentors, to play Dvořák. In this powerful programme of contrasts, Dvořák’s outgoing String Quintet No. 3, composed in America in 1893, is framed by two of Kurtág’s concentrated, meticulously-shaped works – the Six Moments musicaux (2005) and the Officium breve in memoriam Andreae Szervánszky (1988/89). Throughout, the Parker Quartet’s feeling for colour and texture is in evidence. The quartet’s insights into Kurtág’s soundworld have been developed through extensive work with the Hungarian composer. The album was recorded at Zürich’s Radio DRS Studio.

GYÖRGY KURTÁG - MOMENTS MUSICAUX OP.44

1 Invocatio [un fragment] 01:30

2 Footfalls ... mintha valaki jönne ... 02:46

3 Capriccio 01:32

4 In memoriam Sebõk György 03:35

5 Rappel des oiseaux... [Étude pour les harmoniques] 02:31

6 Les adieux [in Janáceks Manier] 02:48

ANTONÍN DVORÁK - STRING QUINTET NO.3 IN EB MAJOR OP.97

7 Allegro non tanto 09:30

8 Scherzo, Allegro vivace 05:58

9 Larghetto 10:05

10 Finale, Allegro giusto 08:34

GYÖRGY KURTÁG - OFFICIUM BREVE IN MEMORIAM ANDREAE SZERVÁNSZKY, OP.28

11 Largo 00:25

12 Più andante 00:44

13 Sostenuto, quasi giusto 00:40

14 Grave, molto sostenuto 00:32

15 (Fantasie über die Harmonien des Webern-Kanons) Presto 00:42

16 (Canon a 4) Molto agitato 00:20

17 Canon a 2 (frei, nach op.31/VI von Webern) Sehr fliessend 00:39

18 Lento 00:38

19 Largo 00:56

20 [Webern: Kanon a 4 (op.31/VI)] Sehr fliessend 02:21

21 Sostenuto 02:39

22 Sostenuto, quasi giusto 00:41

23 Sostenuto, con slancio 01:06

24 Disperato, vivo 00:48

25 Arioso interrotto (di Endre Szervánszky) Larghetto 01:14

Parker Quartet   

Daniel Chong   Violin

Ken Hamao   Violin

Jessica Bodner   Viola

Kee-Hyun Kim   Violoncello

Kim Kashkashian   Viola

PREORDER

CONCERTS

October 10 Parker Quartet Ashmont Hill Chamber Music Dorcester, MA United States of America

October 14 Parker Quartet University of South Carolina Recital Columbia, MA United States of America

October 17 Parker Quartet University of South Carolina Family Concert Columbia, MA United States of America

October 21 Parker Quartet Music Toronto Toronto, ON Canada

November 19 Parker QuartetBlodgett Chamber Music Series, Paine Hall, Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MAU United States of America

November 21 Parker Quartet CU Presents Boulder, CO United States of America

November 22 Parker Quartet CU Presents Boulder, CO United States of America

Tigran Mansurian - Con anima (ECM Records)

Conceived jointly by violinist Movses Pogossian and violist Kim Kashkashian on the occasion of Tigran Mansurian’s 80th birthday, the Con anima project brings together a dedicated cast of players to perform the Armenian composer’s chamber music. The emphasis is on newer pieces - only the Third String Quartet dates from the 20th century - but there is a timeless quality to Mansurian’s work, all of which resounds with the spirit of his homeland. “His works are full of signifiers that come from Armenian ornaments, paintings or stones, “ writes Elena Dubinets in the CD notes. “His music itself feels as if it was carved out of stone.” Sonata da Chiesa is dedicated to the memory of priest-composer-folklorist Komitas, an enduring inspiration for Mansurian. Agnus Dei is influenced by Armenian sacred music, and Die Tänzerin is based upon an Armenian folk dance.

TIGRAN MANSURIAN - AGNUS DEI

1. Agnus Dei (Larghetto) 06:56

2. Qui tollis peccata mundi (Andante)03:58

3. Miserere nobis 04:09

TIGRAN MANSURIAN - SONATA DA CHIESA

4. Tranquillo ma con moto07:54

5. Andante, leggiero 08:07

TIGRAN MANSURIAN - CON ANIMA

6. Tranquillo e poco libero – Moderato con moto, semplice 14:19

TIGRAN MANSURIAN - STRING TRIO

7. Moderato, con moto 02:53

8. Vivacissimo, con fuoco 03:58

9. Grave 06:06

TIGRAN MANSURIAN - STRING QUARTET NO.3

10. Grave06:53

11. Scherzando04:13

12. Adagio 05:49

TIGRAN MANSURIAN - DIE TÄNZERIN

13. Allegro energico 04:00

Tigran Mansurian

Kim Kashkashian: Viola

Movses Pogossian: Violin

Varty Manouelian: Violin

Boris Allakhverdyan: Clarinet

Michael Kaufman: Violoncello

Steven Vanhauwaert: Piano

Tatevik Mokatsian: Piano

Teng Li: Viola

Karen Ouzounian: Violoncello

CONCERTS

March 11

Elina Duni/Rob Luft

Jazz Festival Zug Switzerland

March 12

Elina Duni/Rob Luft

Zum Hut Uster Switzerland

March 13

Elina Duni/Rob Luft

Le Singe Bienne Switzerland

Pre-order

Kim Kashkashian - Six Suites for Viola Solo 2-CD (ECM October 12, 2018)

The poetry and radiance of Bach’s cello suites (BWV 1007-1012) are transfigured in these remarkable interpretations by Kim Kashkashian on viola, offering “a different kind of sombreness, a different kind of dazzlement” as annotator Paul Griffiths observes. One of the most compelling performers of classical and new music, Kashkashian has been hailed by The San Francisco Chronicle as "an artist who combines a probing, restless musical intellect with enormous beauty of tone." An ECM artist since 1985, she approaches Bach’s music with the same commitment as revealed in her other solo recordings, the legendary Hindemith sonatas album and the widely acclaimed (and Grammy-winning) account of Kurtág and Ligeti.

TRACKLIST

CD 1

J. S. BACH - SUITE II D MINOR

1 Prélude

2 Allemande

3 Courante

4 Sarabande

5 Menuet I / II

6 Gigue

J. S. BACH - SUITE I G MAJOR

7 Prélude

8 Allemande

9 Courante

10 Sarabande

11 Menuet I / II

12 Gigue

J. S. BACH - SUITE V C MINOR

13 Prélude

14 Allemande

15 Courante

16 Sarabande

17 Menuet I / II

18 Gigue

CD 2

J. S. BACH - SUITE IV E-FLAT MAJOR

1 Prélude

2 Allemande

3 Courante

4 Sarabande

5 Bourrée I / II

6 Gigue

J. S. BACH - SUITE III C MAJOR

7 Prélude

8 Allemande

9 Courante

10 Sarabande

11 Bourrée I / II

12 Gigue

J. S. BACH - SUITE VI D MAJOR

13 Prélude

14 Allemande

15 Courante

16 Sarabande

17 Gavotte I / II

18 Gigue