The three quartets presented here come from a generation of Polish composers who studied and spent significant time in Paris. Thus the title of the album, Paris Polonais. Decidedly Polish in origin, there is a French flavoring to this music which is extremely attractive. And while these composers were contemporaries, their music is individual and distinctive, making this album most appealing. All 75 minutes of it.
Let me first say how strikingly beautiful this disc sounds. The playing of the Meccore String Quartet is exquisite, and the recorded sound is luxuriant. This is a very different sound than heard from this group on their recent Penderecki CD on the Capriccio label. This is much more atmospheric, with the musicians set back in a lovely, reverberant hall – affording them an almost impressionistic glow. The engineer has masterfully mitigated the reverberation (which under less careful hands might be just too much), presenting the group with focus and presence, allowing plenty of detail.
I was not familiar with any of these composers, so each piece is a new discovery. And a complete revelation.
The disc opens with the most instantly gratifying and approachable composition, the String Quartet by Stefan Kisielewski. This is a student work – firmly tonal and youthful, based upon folk song. There are hints of Bacewicz, with whom he was friends, but more notably, Shostakovich.
The opening Allegro moderato (taken at a superb tempo) is playful, rhythmic and spiky, alternating with lyrical passages in an endlessly varied, almost restless outpouring of thematic motifs. There are many soloistic passages, often with various instruments engaged in back-and-forth exchanges, as if in animated conversation. Notable among them is the characterful playing of 1st violinist, Wojciech Koprowski, and the unmistakable, voluptuous richness of tone from violist Michal Bryla. I noted his incredible sound on the earlier Penderecki recording, and hearing it again here, I am reminded of how glorious it is.
The 2nd movement Adagio is deeply reflective, but not heavy. It features opulent sound from each player individually, and a rich blend from the group as a whole. This is simply gorgeous string quartet playing.
The very short, Prokofiev-ian Gavotte is a quick, lively court dance, followed by an energetic finale, taking us back to the folksy playfulness of the opening movement – again reminiscent of Shostakovich. The piece is brought delightfully to life by this fine group, revealing it to be a real find. I absolutely loved it.
The 2nd String Quartet by Roman Palester is a bit more challenging. It is very long (32+ minutes) – laid out in a single, continuous movement with many varied sections within it. The CD confines it to just one track, insisting the listener get all the way through it in one sitting. And I’m glad it did. I was amazed that it didn’t feel long at all, though there is no denying the sprawling scope of it. It is more atmospheric and harmonically adventurous than the Kisielewski. And it instantly drew me in – completely immersing me into its intriguing soundworld.
Right from the pp opening, not quite tonal (but not deliberately atonal either), the otherworldly atmosphere created is mesmerizing – before an energetic, ff rhythmic intensity commands attention, played with superb articulation. There are reflective moments of yearning too – tunes with hints of tonality (but not quite), played rapturously by this group’s 1st violinist. There are occasional contrapuntal passages between two players as well, endlessly alternating with engaging rhythmic interjections from the entire group. And so it goes for over half an hour, with an incredible variety of mood in the music, and articulation in the playing, keeping the listener absolutely transfixed. I enjoyed every minute of it.
I cannot stress strongly enough the importance of the superb playing of the Meccore String Quartet to the success of this piece. The vivid characterization, wide dynamic range and rich tonal colors on display here combine for a stunning performance. And the recording expertly captures the immediacy and dynamics of the group, enveloped in a spacious hall acoustic. This is an unbelievable piece of music – emotionally demanding (but not draining), and intensely moving.
Finally, the String Quartet by Konstanty Regamey is rooted firmly in the 20th-Century. Written 12 years after the others, it is more “modern” still (even more so than the Palester), completely atonal, but surprisingly lyrical, in an intimately communicative way. The 1st movement is rather harmonically dense but rhythmically propulsive too. The characterization this group brings to this music is captivating.
The Lento is sad and expressive, beautifully played, while the Allegramente is more rapturous and impressionistic, with some passages exhibiting enticing bits of harmonic tonality. It’s also light and dancing, with folk tune elements irresistibly conveyed – enhanced by silky, shimmering string sound which delights the listener from beginning to end. And with it, this wonderful concert comes to a satisfying and musically fulfilling conclusion.
I had a hard time finding the words to describe this recording. The music is so uniquely rewarding and the playing so superb, the entire disc becomes an engrossing experience. And difficult to adequately describe. You really must hear it for yourself.
Fortunately, the entire production is excellent. The CD comes in a highly attractive tri-fold enclosure with an interesting plastic-coated (almost rubberized) texture to it – affording it a most unusual, luxurious feel. There is also a substantial booklet (in Polish and an English translation) containing some of the most comprehensive and interesting program notes I’ve encountered in a long while. (This cannot be taken for granted these days; I’m seeing more and more CD releases which skimp on the program notes – or, in some cases, forego them altogether.) There is a fascinating deep-dive into the 3 composers (and these works) as a group, followed by individual notes detailing each one separately. There is also an informative bio of the quartet and its musicians, along with highly attractive photography. Add in the excellent recorded sound, and this is one of the best productions of new music I’ve encountered in a long time.
While this recording isn’t a main-stream release, and therefore might be a bit of a challenge to obtain, it is worth the effort. It is surely a contender for one of the best recordings I’ve heard this year – musically, sonically, and most definitely, artistically. This is simply magnificent string quartet playing.
