Universum Atom String Quartet

• Dawid Lubowicz (b. 1981): String Quartet No. 1 "Atomizations":
• 1 Lubowicz: String Quartet No. 1 "Atomizations": I. Interference 05:32
• 2 Lubowicz: String Quartet No. 1 "Atomizations": II. Entanglement 04:19
• 3 Lubowicz: String Quartet No. 1 "Atomizations": III. Cosmic Microwave Background 04:39
• 4 Lubowicz: String Quartet No. 1 "Atomizations": IV. Universe Expansion 07:25
• Krzysztof Lenczowski (b. 1986): Atlas of Butterflies:
• 5 Lenczowski: Atlas of Butterflies: I. Peacock Butterfly 03:18
• 6 Lenczowski: Atlas of Butterflies: II. Common Brimstone 03:24
• 7 Lenczowski: Atlas of Butterflies: III. Adonis Blue 03:40
• 8 Lenczowski: Atlas of Butterflies: IV. Old World Swallowtail 08:31
• Mateusz Smoczyński (b. 1984): String Quartet No. 1 "Pictures from Warsaw":
• 9 Smoczyński: String Quartet No. 1 "Pictures from Warsaw": I. Foundation 05:24
• 10 Smoczyński: String Quartet No. 1 "Pictures from Warsaw": II. Tears 03:22
• 11 Smoczyński: String Quartet No. 1 "Pictures from Warsaw": III. Battle 06:22
• 12 Smoczyński: String Quartet No. 1 "Pictures from Warsaw": IV. In Between 01:21
• 13 Smoczyński: String Quartet No. 1 "Pictures from Warsaw": V. Uprising 01:51
• 14 Smoczyński: String Quartet No. 1 "Pictures from Warsaw": VI. Death 01:02
• 15 Smoczyński: String Quartet No. 1 "Pictures from Warsaw": VII. Crush 02:35
• 16 Smoczyński: String Quartet No. 1 "Pictures from Warsaw": VIII. Present 04:48
• Michał Zaborski (b. 1978): Bolero:
• 17 Zaborski: Bolero: I. Bolero 09:41
• 18 Zaborski: Bolero: II. Air 01:40
• 19 Zaborski: Bolero: III. Finale 06:20
• Total Runtime 01:25:14

Info for Universum

The latest album by Atom String Quartet - "Universum", is a natural consequence of the band's activities, and at the same time a completely new approach to composing. Each musician mastered great form and composed a full-scale, multi-part string quartet. These works are autonomous entities and tell different stories, precisely showing the individual character of each composer. "Atomizations" by Dawid Lubowicz talk about the vastness of the universe, are a reflection on the infinity of events, a story about a road that always surprises and never ends. "Varsovia" - Mateusz Smoczyński is a musical record of the heroism of Warsaw and the pain of its inhabitants, interwoven with images of the bustling metropolis of the times. present; "Bolero" by Michał Zaborski tells about dance, passion and love, while "Atlas of Butterflies" by Krzysztof Lenczowski is a musical illustration of a children's book with drawings and descriptions of butterflies. Stylistically and formally, the songs are close to classical music, i.e. to the natural environment of a string quartet, but they do not lack elements characteristic of Atom String Quartet, such as improvisation or new performance techniques.

Dawid Lubowicz, violin
Mateusz Smoczyński, violin
Michał Zaborski, viola
Krzysztof Lenczowski, cello

Atom String Quartet
is one of the most original chamber ensembles in the world. It combines the tremendous skills of a classical string quartet with broadly understood improvisation, inspired by Polish folklore, world music, as well as contemporary and classical music. In its repertoire the group constantly blazes new paths, looking for their own sound and formal solutions that escape any classification.

All musicians received a thorough classical education – they are graduates of the Warsaw Chopin University of Music. They all compose and successfully lead their own solo projects.

Since winning the Grand Prix at the 13th Bielska Zadymka Jazzowa in 2011, the ensemble has been regularly performing on the most important Polish and international music stages.

The musicians of Atom String Quartet are regularly invited to recording sessions and collaborate with leading Polish and international artists and orchestras. Their musical partners include artists and bands such as: Branford Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Gil Goldstein, Vladislav „Adzik” Sendecki, Mino Cinelu, Paolo Fresu, Leszek Możdżer, Lars Danielsson, Zohar Fresco, Jerzy Maksymiuk, André Ochodlo, Urszula Dudziak, Anna Maria Jopek, Marek Moś, Natalia Kukulska, Kayah, Aga Zaryan, Adam Sztaba, Grzech Piotrowski, Krzysztof Herdzin, Andrzej Smolik, Orkiestra AUKSO, NFM, Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Szczecińskiej, Orkiestra NFM Leopoldinum, Sinfonia Varsovia, Sinfonietta Cracovia, Sinfonia Iuventus.

In the 2017/2018 season, Atom String Quartet was artist-in-residence at the Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic in Szczecin.

In March 2021, Atom String Quartet, together with pianist Hania Rani, performed Max Richter’s piece „Testament”. Commissioned by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the composition was written and dedicated to the artists as a tribute to Krzysztof Penderecki, who passed away in 2020. The premiere performance was recorded by TVP Kultura.

This album contains no booklet.