Belcea Quartet

With their widely acclaimed recordings of, among others, the complete string quartets of Béla Bartók and Leos Janáček, the Belcea Quartet is at the top of a new generation of young string quartets. The British ensemble, founded in 1994, excels in fine intonation and lively interpretation. With these weapons they tackle the so-called “third” - although chronologically first - and seventh string quartet by Ludwig van Beethoven. After its premiere, the quartet opus 59 no. 1 was described by a critic as “a farce”, to which Beethoven sagaciously replied: “this music is not for you, but for the future”. The Polish composer Karl Szymanovski also encountered opposition from conservative quarters when he evolved towards a more abstract musical language from the 1920s onwards. This urge for innovation characterizes Szymanovski's 'Polish period', in which he finds inspiration in Polish folk music, in particular that of the peoples of the Tantra Mountains. These influences are evidenced by the rhythmic and melodic motifs in the second string quartet.