These photos were taken in January 2010 at Potton Hall by the recording engineer Patrick Allen who’s a really talented photographer too! I love working with this quartet and it was wonderful to work with them again last January after four years, during which time they found a new first violinist and took time playing together before they felt they were ready to record again, with their inspirational new first fiddle Daniel Rowland.In 2006 it was Janacek and this year Ravel, in a characteristically vibrant and exciting account, not coupled with the Debussy Quartet as is so often the case,
but with an ingenious variety of music ranging from Gershwin’s Lullaby – Gershwin asked Ravel for composition lessons but when he told Ravel how much he earned Ravel declared that he should be taking lessons from Gershwin! – to the fantastic nocturnal world of Mario Lavista’s String Quartet No.2, the compellingly rhythmic Metro Chabacano – a piece which Javier Alvarez wrote to be played on a loop on one of Mexico City’s busiest subway stations – and the extraordinary Tenebrae by Osvaldo Golijov, a haunting and deeply moving piece which uses phrases from one of Couperin’s Lecons de Ténebres. If you haven’t heard Golijov’s Latin American take on the St Mark Passion – La Pasión según San Marcos – don’t miss it, the CD’s on DG.
but with an ingenious variety of music ranging from Gershwin’s Lullaby – Gershwin asked Ravel for composition lessons but when he told Ravel how much he earned Ravel declared that he should be taking lessons from Gershwin! – to the fantastic nocturnal world of Mario Lavista’s String Quartet No.2, the compellingly rhythmic Metro Chabacano – a piece which Javier Alvarez wrote to be played on a loop on one of Mexico City’s busiest subway stations – and the extraordinary Tenebrae by Osvaldo Golijov, a haunting and deeply moving piece which uses phrases from one of Couperin’s Lecons de Ténebres. If you haven’t heard Golijov’s Latin American take on the St Mark Passion – La Pasión según San Marcos – don’t miss it, the CD’s on DG.
The new Brodsky CD is called Rhythm and Texture and is available on the Orchid label. And having got back into recording, we’re already looking at dates for the next Brodsky recording – doubtless more lively, intense days of music-making followed by a quick drive to The Ship at Dunwich for food and several beers…