Taneyev & Glazunov String Quintets Gringolts Quartet & Christian Poltera

• 1 I. Allegro con spirito 11:28
• 2 II. Vivace con fuoco 05:03
• 3 III. Tema con variazioni: Tema 00:50
• 4 III. Tema con variazioni: Variation 1 01:12
• 5 III. Tema con variazioni: Variation 2 01:18
• 6 III. Tema con variazioni: Variation 3 01:22
• 7 III. Tema con variazioni: Variation 4 01:23
• 8 III. Tema con variazioni: Variation 5 01:44
• 9 III. Tema con variazioni: Variation 6 02:04
• 10 III. Tema con variazioni: Variation 7 01:18
• 11 III. Tema con variazioni: Variation 8 02:16
• 12 III. Tema con variazioni: Variation 9 - Variation 10 06:16
• 13 I. Allegro 08:28
• 14 II. Scherzo: Allegro moderato 05:51
• 15 III. Andante sostenuto 06:53
• 16 IV. Finale: Allegro moderato 07:38
• Total Runtime 01:05:04

Info for Taneyev & Glazunov String Quintets

Fine works by any standards, the two string quintets on this disc become even more significant in light of the marginal role accorded to chamber music in the flowering of Russian music during the second half of the 19th century. The common goal of many composers of the period was the creation of a national musical idiom based on Russian folk song, and to them chamber music seemed far too abstract as well as too closely associated with German traditions. There were of course exceptions, and Alexander Glazunov is an obvious example: never a dogmatic nationalist he was himself a competent amateur cellist who learned his craft by playing chamber music, and composed a number of chamber works: in his worklist the Quintet in A major appears between the third and the fourth of his seven string quartets. Glazunov was supported in his work as a composer of chamber pieces by the legendary Mitrofan Belyayev – a lumber magnate turned patron of the arts who founded the important Belaieff musical publishing company. Belyayev was a keen viola player, and it is not unlikely that Glazunov chose to begin his quintet with a solo for that instrument as a tribute to his benefactor, at whose St Petersburg residence the piece was first performed. Although Belyayev was most intimately involved with the composers based in St Petersburg, he also published music by the more western-oriented Moscow-composers, including Sergei Taneyev’s passionate, but at the same time tightly constructed String Quintet No. 1 in G major. Taneyev was a friend of Tchaikovsky – who greatly respected his advice while also fearing it – as well as the teacher of Rachmaninov and Nikolai Medtner. The Gringolts Quartet has invited the cellist Christian Poltéra to join them on this the ensemble’s first appearance on the BIS label, in a programme that is in turn elegant, lyrical and passionate.

„This is a release that is well worth seeking out. These are fascinating works and the performances are suitably brilliant.“ Highly recommended. (IRR OUTSTANDING)

„…excellently handled by Piers Lane and well balanced with the strings in the recording.“ (Gramophone)

„Piers Lane's light-fingered ascents and rapid scalic plunges are perfectly complemented by the Goldners' feather-light string playing.“ (BBC Music Magazine)

Christian Poltéra, cello
Gringolts Quartet

Gringolts Quartett
The Zurich-based Gringolts Quartet was founded in 2008, born from mutual friendships and chamber music partnerships that cross four countries: over the years, the Russian violinist Ilya Gringolts, the Romanian violist Silvia Simionescu and the Armenian violinist Anahit Kurtikyan frequently performed together in various chamber formations at distinguished festivals; the German cellist Claudius Herrmann played with Anahit Kurtikyan in the renowned Amati Quartet. What unites the four musicians is the immense joy they get from performing together and their passion for the high demands presented by the string quartet repertoire.

They have already had the opportunity to collaborate with eminent artists such as Leon Fleischer, Jörg Widmann, David Geringas, Malin Hartelius, Christian Poltéra and Eduard Brunner. Aside from the classical repertoire for string quartet, they are also dedicated performers of contemporary music, including string quartets by Marc-André Dalbavie, Jörg Widmann and Jens Joneleit.

Highlights from the past seasons include performances at the Salzburg Festival, Lucerne Festival, Gstaad Menuhin Festival, St Petersburg Philharmonia, L'Auditori Barcelona, Sociedad Filarmónica de Bilbao, Società di Concerti in Milan and the Kasseler Musiktage. In the current season the Gringolts Quartet will make its debuts in Norway and Poland; concert tours will take them to Italy, Germany and Switzerland.

The Gringolts Quartet’s debut recording with works by Robert Schumann was released in 2011. Together with David Geringas the Gringolts Quartet participated in the world premiere recording of Walter Braunfels’ quintet in 2012, which was awarded a "Supersonic Award," as well as an ECHO Klassik award. In 2014 they garnered attention with their Brahms CD (“The interpretational concept reveals new ways of understanding the work.” Pizzicato.lu). A new CD with quintets by Glazunov and Taneyev with Christian Poltéra is due to be released in January 2016.

The members of the Gringolts Quartet all play on rare Italian instruments. Ilya Gringolts plays a Giuseppe Guarneri "del Gesù" violin, Cremona 1742-43, on loan from a private collection. Anahit Kurtikyan plays a Camillo Camilli violin, Mantua 1733. Silvia Simionescu plays a Jacobus Januarius viola, Cremona 1660. Claudius Herrmann plays a Maggini cello, Brescia 1600. Prince Golizyn who was a great admirer of Beethoven, gave the first performances of the composer’s last string quartets, which he commissioned, on this instrument.

This album contains no booklet.