Simón Bolívar String Quartet - Ginastera, Dvořák & Shostakovich: String Quartets (2013)

Violinists Alejandro Carreño and Boris Suaréz, violist Ismel Campos and cellist Aimon Mata breathe new life into three gems of the string quartet repertoire, performed with the perfect balance of classical refinement and South American panache.

The SBSQ comprises key players of DG exclusive recording artist Gustavo Dudamel’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. This is a debut recording that musically and thematically reflects the young ensemble’s extraordinary story and progressive pursuits.

This is DG’s first recording of Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera’s particularly difficult 1948 String Quartet no. 1, inspired by the vivacious dance rhythms of his homeland

Shostakovich’s deeply personal String Quartet no. 8 is dedicated “to the victims of fascism and war,” a theme which particularly speaks to the SBSQ

In another DG first, the SBSQ adds South American flavour to the “American” String Quartet, one of Dvořák’s celebrations of his visit to the New World

TRACKLIST
01. Ginastera: String Quartet No. 1, Op.20-1. Allegro violento ed agitato
02. Ginastera: String Quartet No. 1, Op.20-2. Vivacissimo
03. Ginastera: String Quartet No. 1, Op.20-3. Calmo e poetico
04. Ginastera: String Quartet No. 1, Op.20-4. Allegramente rustico
05. Dvorák: String Quartet No.12 in F major, Op.96-"American" B.179-1. Allegro ma non troppo
06. Dvorák: String Quartet No.12 in F major, Op.96-"American" B.179-2. Lento
07. Dvorák: String Quartet No.12 in F major, Op.96-"American" B.179-3. Molto vivace
08. Dvorák: String Quartet No.12 In F Major, Op.96-"American" B.179-4. Finale (Vivace ma non troppo)
09. Shostakovich: String Quartet No.8 in C minor, Op.110-1. Largo
10. Shostakovich: String Quartet No.8 in C minor, Op.110-2. Allegro molto
11. Shostakovich: String Quartet No.8 in C minor, Op.110-3. Allegretto
12. Shostakovich: String Quartet No.8 in C minor, Op.110-4. Largo
13. Shostakovich: String Quartet No.8 in C minor, Op.110-5. Largo