BEETHOVEN • BARTÓK • DVORÁK – JULLIARD STRING QUARTET

The legendary Juilliard String Quartet marked its 75th anniversary with an exquisite recording featuring its most recent addition, first violinist Areta Zhulla. Under the Sony Classical label, the quartet presents a captivating program featuring Bartók’s String Quartet No. 3, Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 8, Op. 59 No. 2 ‘Rasumovsky,’ and Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 ‘American.’ This album not only showcases the quartet’s celebrated tonal beauty but also highlights their sensitively attuned ensemble and remarkable technical prowess.

In Beethoven’s second Razumovsky Quartet, the Juilliard String Quartet offers a refreshing perspective that may surprise those accustomed to leaner, grittier interpretations. Instead, the quartet embraces a full-blown romanticism, reminiscent of Dvořák’s American Quartet. This approach emphasizes the tonal beauty of the ensemble and allows for high expression, resulting in meticulously crafted ideas. The quartet projects their musical ideas with a sense of grandeur, as if performing to the back of a grand hall, resulting in expressive twists and turns that occasionally become larger than life on a recording. Yet, the crisp rhythms and airy textures are ideally coordinated, combined with gorgeously vocal phrasing, delivering a splendid performance filled with pizzazz.

Bartók’s String Quartet No. 3 bursts forth in vivid technicolor, showcasing the quartet’s attention to detail and the complexity of textures achieved with just four instruments. The quartet’s microfocused approach allows them to navigate the intricate musical landscapes with astonishing clarity and precision, immersing listeners in the composer’s rich and evocative world.

Closing the album, Dvořák’s American Quartet is a feast of energy and color. The Juilliard String Quartet infuses the work with a sense of dynamism, capturing the spirit of the “New World” that inspired the composer. The recording strikes an ideal balance between intimacy and spaciousness, allowing the quartet’s tone to breathe and glow, immersing the listener in the work’s delightful melodies and rhythmic vitality.

Throughout the recording, the Juilliard String Quartet demonstrates why they remain an enduring and revered ensemble in the world of chamber music. Their remarkable artistry, honed over decades, shines through in every note. Areta Zhulla’s seamless integration into the ensemble is evident, adding a fresh dimension to the quartet’s celebrated legacy.

he Juilliard String Quartet’s recording of Bartók, Beethoven, and Dvořák is a masterpiece of tonal beauty and technical splendor. From the expressive power of Beethoven to the intricacies of Bartók and the vivacity of Dvořák, this album is a must-listen for chamber music enthusiasts.