Claude Debussy; Karol Szymanowski - Quartets (Belcea Quartet)

Information

Composer: Claude Debussy; Karol Szymanowski

• Debussy - String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10, L. 85
• Szymanowski - String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 37
• Szymanowski - String Quartet No. 2, Op. 56

Belcea Quartet

    Corina Belcea, violin

    Suyeon Kang, violin (Debussy & Szymanowski's 2nd)

    Axel Schacher, violin (Szymanowski's 1st)

    Krzysztof Chorzelski, viola

    Antoine Lederlin, cello

Date: 2025

Label: Alpha Classics

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Three years after their Brahms recording, the Belcea Quartet returns with a new album marking the debut of second violinist Suyeon Kang, who joined in 2023. The program revisits Claude Debussy’s String Quartet—first recorded by the ensemble 25 years ago—and pairs it with two quartets by Karol Szymanowski, a composer they deeply admire. Szymanowski’s First Quartet, begun in 1917 and premiered in 1924 after the Russian Revolution, and his Second Quartet from 1927, premiered in 1929, showcase his distinctive musical voice. This recording reflects both the quartet’s renewal and their enduring engagement with richly expressive repertoire.

The Belcea Quartet, formed by musicians from Romania, Korea-Australia, Poland, and France, is renowned for its passionate precision and expressive depth. Its repertoire ranges from Haydn and Beethoven to Bartók, Janáček, and Szymanowski, while also championing contemporary composers such as Penderecki, Turnage, and Connesson. Through the Belcea Quartet Trust, the ensemble commissions new works and mentors young quartets. Their acclaimed recordings include complete cycles of Beethoven, Bartók, Brahms, and Britten. Former Ensemble in Residence at Berlin’s Pierre Boulez Hall, they perform regularly at major venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Konzerthaus, with upcoming appearances across Europe and Asia.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz