Joseph Haydn : String quartet No. 2 in D Major Op. 71
Johannes Brahms : String quartet No. 3 in B Major Op. 67
Alexander Zemlinsky : String quartet No. 3 Op. 19
The LaSalle Quartet was active from 1946 to 1988, however
its influence goes far beyond that. Violinist Walter Levine is still a vital,
much sought out authority for string players. The quartet has remained one of
the primary references in regard to the discussion of important interpretive and
practical performance issues.
The men of the LaSalle were one of the most influential
post war strings quartets to attain such international prestige and renowned for
their distinctive tonal character and interpretive approaches. With great
determination and also great conviction, the LaSalle Quartet was from their
founding, devoted to the repertoire of the late 19th and 20th century. Among
these, the works of Schoenberg, Berg and Webern were a significant part, but so
were the quartets of Schoenberg's teacher, Alexander Zemlinsky.
This CD presents studio recordings from 1965, 1968 and
1977, and draws together Zemlinsky with Haydn and Brahms – a bold program for an
ensemble specializing in modern to include some “early music “. But the works
ordered here are not presented merely because they are well-known pieces; rather,
they are picked up anew and reexamined from a new perspective and with a fresh
approach to listening and interpretation. One approaches these quartets thinking
critically and listening attentively.