Hello folks,
I emailed the Kreutzer Quartet recently regarding their sadly discontinued Reicha string quartet project (vols 1&2, Toccata label, are what launched my interest in unsung composers--they are extraordinary, to say the least), and heard the following from their cellist:
"Yes, we are planning to record more. The one thing that has slowed us down is funding - we would have done more by now if we had financial backing."
I see on the violinist's website that the final 2 quartets of op. 49 have been recorded but not released: http://www.peter-sheppard-skaerved.com/2013/05/anton-reicha-quartet-op-49-no-2/
I wanted to ask you experts and enthusiasts here whether anyone knows of any other Reicha string quartet recordings or even performances in the pipeline? There are 2 other easily available sets that I know of: Quatuor Ardeo recorded the C minor quartet that Kreutzer did plus two others, also excellent, and the Quatuor Girard recorded a much later, Spohr-like quartet for the 3-disc album of Reicha chamber music under the Alpha label.
I'm very hungry for more.
Well, more googling has paid off, as usual: it looks like the "Reicha Quartet" has successfully kickstarted a recording of Reicha's weird, weird Quatuor Scientifique:
https://www.reichaquartet.eu/en
https://www.hithit.com/en/project/4773/reicha-quartet-records-anton-reicha-quatuor-scientifique
I am excited.
Sounds glorious! Apparently it dates from around 1806. I suspect the concept is weirder than the music, though.
Well, it's on its way from Brilliant Classics next month. Perhaps Brilliant Classics might upload one or the other work or both to their YouTube channel though probably not. One way or the other, who knows- sometimes Reicha does surprise significantly in both respects, I think, though... hope to give it a listen. Besides Reicha and Beethoven there weren't -that- many composers in the early-to-middle 19th century who experimented much with the quartet form, iirc...
Even if they don't upload to YouTube, it'll almost surely be on various streaming platforms.
Excerpts here:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/reicha-quartor-scientifique/hnum/9136769 (https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/reicha-quartor-scientifique/hnum/9136769)
I'm listening to Quatuor scientifique. It's available for streaming and download on Qobuz. It's also on spotify. The physical CD is announced on amazon for July 5.
Quoteavailable for streaming and download on Qobuz. It's also on spotify. The physical CD is announced on amazon for July 5.
Also, download now available from iTunes, and also available on Apple Music streaming.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/reicha-quatuor-scientifique/1462034305 (https://music.apple.com/us/album/reicha-quatuor-scientifique/1462034305)
Here is a review of the work from Hurwitz:
https://youtu.be/i850H_GsPXM