Enescu: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2

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Enescu's 1920 First Quartet crams so much into 45-odd minutes that even two or three hearings barely scratch its surface. It's a veritable forest of invention, fairly Brahmsian in texture, organic... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Catalogue No: 8554721
Label: Naxos
Length: 73 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

January 2002

Editor's Choice

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Enescu: String Quartet No.1 in E flat major, Op. 22, No. 1

Work length46:06

$11.00

$14.15

Ad Libitum Quartet

Allegro moderato

Track length13:05

$3.00

$3.85

Andante pensieroso

Track length10:26

$3.00

$3.85

Allegretto scherzando, non troppo vivace

Track length6:37

$1.00

$1.30

Allegretto moderato

Track length15:58

$4.00

$5.15

Enescu: String Quartet No.2 in G major, Op. 22, No. 2

Work length27:28

$6.00

$7.80

Ad Libitum Quartet

Molto moderato

Track length5:57

$1.00

$1.30

Andante molto sostenuto ed espressivo

Track length9:19

$2.00

$2.60

Allegretto non troppo mosso

Track length4:01

$1.00

$1.30

Con moto - Molto moderato, Energico

Track length8:11

$2.00

$2.60

Reviews
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Reviews

2010

Enescu's 1920 First Quartet crams so much into 45-odd minutes that even two or three hearings barely scratch its surface. It's a veritable forest of invention, fairly Brahmsian in texture, organic in its thinking and frequently dramatic. The second movement incorporates sundry embellishments and effects (including the use of sulponticello), and the finale features variations on a march-like theme. It will make wonderful if challenging listening for anyone who values quality ideas above economical structuring.
Although the two quartets share the single opus number, they're years apart chronologically, aeons if you consider their contrasting styles. The Second Quartet was Enescu's penultimate work, and breathes the heady aroma of Romanian folk music, especially in the slow movement and finale, which recall the world of the far better-known Third Violin Sonata.
Shorter than the First Quartet by almost half, the Second feels tighter and more agile.
The Ad Libitum Quartet do a fabulous job.
They attend to Enescu's endless technical demands with a devotion that translates to apparent effortlessness. Naxos's superior production secures a top recommendation and unbeatable value too.

January 2002

I'm sure it won't come amiss if I can persuade you to listen to a real sleeper, the disc of Enescu's string quartets.

Enescu: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2

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