Tokyo String Quartet:
- Quartets by Dvorak and Smetana
The announcement of Kazuhide Isomura and Kikuei Ikeda’s retirement from the Tokyo String Quartet in June, 2013 led to the disbanding of the quartet following the end of the 2013 season. I have enjoyed many performances of this quartet over the years, and I am sorry that they will go their separate ways now.
In this CD, we get to hear:
Dvorak:
- String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 ‘American’
Smetana:
- String Quartet No. 1 in E minor ‘From My Life’
Performed by the Tokyo String Quartet
In this recording, the world-renowned Tokyo String Quartet presents a pair of well – loved chamber works offering a look into the private world of two Czech composers. Antonín Dvorak and Bedrich Smetana – although they were sometimes regarded as musical opposites in their homeland – together they came to represent the typical sound of 19th-century Czech music.
Regarded as one of the supreme chamber ensembles of the world, the Tokyo String Quartet has captivated audiences and critics alike since it was founded 45 years ago. Performing over 100 concerts worldwide each season, the quartet has a devoted international following that includes the major capitals of the world and extends to all four corners of the globe.
Officially formed in 1969 at the Juilliard School of Music, the Tokyo String Quartet traces its origins to the Toho School of Music in Tokyo.
Here is a video of Tokyo String Quartet performing the Dvorak String Quartet No. 13:
And next, here they are in Haydn’s Quartet No. 66 in G, Op. 77, No. 1:
Tags: Tokyo String Quartet, Dvorak, Smetana, Haydn
Ah, but the real measure of sueccss for a Jig, is has anyone danced to it? I can imagine a very funny movie scene in which a room full of folks were dancing to this.