Bacewicz: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1 Lutoslawski Quartet

• Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969): String Quartet No. 6 (1960)
• 1 I. Andante - Vivo 07:06
• 2 II. Vivace 03:42
• 3 III. Grave 03:46
• 4 IV. dotted quarter note = 114 03:05
• String Quartet No. 1 (1939)
• 5 I. Moderato - Piu mosso 06:12
• 6 II. Tema con variazioni 06:33
• 7 III. Vivo 04:12
• String Quartet No. 3 (1947)
• 8 I. Allegro ma non troppo 06:30
• 9 II. Andante 06:26
• 10 III. Vivo 05:55
• String Quartet No. 7 (1965)
• 11 I. Allegro 06:05
• 12 II. Grave 06:20
• 13 III. Con vivezza 05:12
• Total Runtime 01:11:04

Info for Bacewicz: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1

Musicologist Adrian Thomas considered Grażyna Bacewicz’s string quartets “unrivalled in 20th-century Polish music and… one of the century’s most significant contributions to the genre”. Her folk-music infused First Quartet dates from student days at the Paris Conservatoire, while exceptional polyphonic skill, intense emotion and playful, high spirits characterize the Third Quartet. Both the Sixth and Seventh Quartets unite tradition with a strikingly effective and highly personal exploration of progressive contemporary techniques. As Lutoslawski observed, in the “rapidly changing artistic currents” of the times, “it was [Bacewicz’s] music which helped create that atmosphere”.

Jakub Jakowicz, violin I
Marcin Markowicz, violin II
Artur Rozmyslowicz, viola
Maciej Mlodawski, cello

Lutoslawski Quartet
Named after the great 20th century Polish Composer Witold Lutoslawski, the Lutoslawski Quartet is one of the leading young polish quartets. Since its formation in 2007, the group has quickly established itself on Polish and international classical music scene, appearing at numerous prestigious festivals: ‘Warsaw Autumn’, Wratislavia Cantans, Klarafestival in Brussels, Ankara Music Festival in Turkey, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Tongyegong International Music Festival in South Korea, World Music Days, and Jazztopad. Lutoslawski Quartet has performed in the following concert halls: Kioi Hall in Tokio, YST Conservatory in Singapore, Hangzhou Theatre in Hangzhou, Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, Megaron in Athens, Konzerthaus in Berlin, Bozar and Brussels Opera, as well as at SESC in São Paulo, Warsaw Philharmonic and the S1 Studio of the Polish Radio in Warsaw. The ensemble has cooperated with IRCAM – Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Lutoslawski Quartet has enjoyed collaborations with Garrick Ohlsson, Kevin Kenner, Bruno Canino, Michel Lethiec, Tomoko Akasaka, Eugene Indjic, Ryszard Groblewski, Andrzej Bauer, and with outstanding jazz musicians: Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Uri Caine and Benoît Delbecq.

Their recording catalogue includes the following labels: Naxos, NFM, DUX and CD Accord. Lutoslawski Quartet performs mainly music of the 20th and 21st centuries, with a focus on Polish music, including works by Witold Lutoslawski, Karol Szymanowski, Paweł Mykietyn, and Marcin Markowicz, the latter a member of the Lutoslawski Quartet. Lutoslawski Quartet is one of the resident ensembles of the National Forum of Music in Wroclaw.

Booklet for Bacewicz: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1