Leopold van der Pals - String Quartets, Vol. 2 (Van Der Pals Quartet)

Information

Composer: Leopold van der Pals

• String Quartet No. 4, Op. 89
• String Quartet No. 5, Op. 144 "Vier kleine Stücke"
• String Quartet No. 6, Op. 186
• Quintet for Flute and String Quartet, Op. 79
• String Quartet 1907 (unfinished)

Van Der Pals Quartet

    Gordan Trajkovic, violin

    Fredrik Burstedt, violin

    Markus Falkbring, viola

    Tobias van der Pals, cello

&

Ulla Miilmann, flute

Date: 2026

Label: CPO

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This recording concludes the complete cycle of string quartets by Leopold van der Pals, a composer whose refined musical language lies between late Romanticism and Impressionism. As noted by klassik-heute, his music “absolutely deserves to be heard.” Shaped by a life of spiritual and philosophical exploration influenced by Goethe and Rudolf Steiner, van der Pals sought higher truths through continual artistic transformation. In addition to completing the quartet cycle, the release includes the Quintet for flute and strings, a distinctive and beautifully sonorous work whose restraint and avoidance of virtuosity make it especially revealing of the composer’s artistic voice.

Leopold van der Pals (4 July 1884 – 7 February 1966) was a Danish-Dutch composer born in St. Petersburg. He studied music with prominent teachers including Julius Johannsen, Reinhold Glière and Alexander Siloti. His composing career began in 1909 with a performance by the Berlin Philharmonic, leading to extensive tours across Europe and America. Choosing to remain in Switzerland during World War II, he continued composing prolifically, completing 252 works. In addition to music, he wrote poems, articles, reviews and librettos for his operas. His output includes songs, chamber music, symphonies and eight operas.

The Van Der Pals Quartet was founded in 2013 by members of the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra and cellist Tobias van der Pals. Known for blending classical repertoire with lesser-known works and interdisciplinary collaborations, the quartet has toured countries including Denmark, Belgium, Germany and Serbia. Their performances have earned acclaim, especially for reviving the music of Leopold van der Pals and playing in unconventional venues like instrument exhibitions and jazz fusion festivals. Their repertoire spans from early music to contemporary works, and they are also active educators.