Search - Alberto Ginastera, Henschel Quartet :: Ginastera: String Quartets 1 & 2

"...The Henschel Quartet?s playing was as close to perfection as to be beyond reproach. Magical!" -THE STRAD Alberto Ginastera (1916?1983) is widely regarded as the greatest Argentinean composer of the 20th century. Ginastera?s works combine national characteristics with neo-classical techniques. However, his work is characterized not merely by folk elements, but by a profound interaction with new compositional techniques and the extension of the color spectrum of individual instruments. The String Quartet No. 1 from 1948 is the first work of Ginastera?s in which the dominant influence of folk music is relegated to a subsidiary role, in favor of a closer approach to classical style. The String Quartet No. 2 from 1958 was written in response to a commission from the renowned Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation, and is Ginastera?s first work in 12-tone style. The Henschel Quartet have been awarded a number of prizes for their interpretations, in particular for this much-recognized recording. The quartet performs regularly in prestigious chamber music cycles worldwide and is a guest at numerous renowned music festivals. "Performances of character and individuality?an approach that uncovers essential features of [Mendelssohn?s] style and personality." -GRAMOPHONE