Friedrich Gernsheim - String Quartets, Vol. 3 (Diogenes Quartett)

Information

Composer: Friedrich Gernsheim

• String Quartet No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 66
• String Quintet in D Major, Op. 9

Diogenes Quartett

    Stefan Kirpal, violin

    Gundula Kirpal, violin

    Alba González i Becerra, viola (Op. 66)

    David Quiggle, viola (Op. 9)

    Stephan Ristau, cello

Date: 2026

Label: CPO

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A few years ago, the composer Friedrich Gernsheim was to be made palatable to the world as the "romantic who invented the Winnetou melody": His music, it was said, was "catchy, to a certain extent barrier-free", his rediscovery "great fun". Of course, the anachronism of a coincidental equality of notes does as little for the recognition of artistic value as the degradation of the work to superficial entertainment. A work such as the fourth string quartet presented here is quite sufficient to demonstrate the whole seriousness of Brahms' friend in an exemplary manner: Elegant in its basic mood, spiced with an enchanting scherzo and glowing in its dramatic intensifications, the composition from 1900 proves to be a top-class masterpiece that leaves deep traces - traces, of course, whose beginnings go back a long way, as the first string quintet, a good thirty years older, reveals to anyone who knows how to listen seriously.

The Diogenes Quartet, founded in Munich in 1998, has built a distinguished reputation through collaborations with leading ensembles and a commitment to both classical-romantic repertoire and contemporary works. Their extensive discography includes acclaimed recordings, notably a complete cycle of Franz Schubert’s string quartets, alongside lesser-known compositions. Internationally active, they perform at major festivals and tour widely. The ensemble also engages in innovative crossover projects and places strong emphasis on music education and outreach. Since 2015, they have served as cultural ambassadors for SOS Children's Villages, reflecting their broader cultural and social commitment.