Armida Quartett – Mozart – String Quartets, Vol. III (2020) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Following the critically acclaimed volumes I and II of their Mozart String Quartet series, the Armida Quartett is delighted to bring volume III in a double album. With the recordings here, the Armida Quartet has reached the halfway mark in a project that seeks to intimately explore an entire mountain range.

Mozart’s complete works for string quartet, to which they devote intense scrutiny within the framework of a recital series that pairs them with contemporary works specifically commissioned for the occasion. This requires the musicians to pay a particularly attentive ear: history remains unscathed, but the members of the Armida Quartet want to call ingrained listening habits into question. By implication, they explore Mozart’s works as if the composer was looking over their shoulder. In collaboration with Henle music publishers and musicologist Wolf-Dieter Seiffert, they have embarked on a “workshop exploration” of Mozart’s string quartets in the original manuscript.

The occasional discovery of certain hitherto overlooked details leads them to interpret certain passages in exciting new ways. All the while, they gain increasing familiarity and assurance as they delve ever more deeply into the master’s musical language.

Tracklist

1. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 14 in G Major, K. 375: I. Allegro vivace assai
2. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 14 in G Major, K. 375: II. Menuetto. Allegro – Trio
3. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 14 in G Major, K. 375: III. Andante cantabile
4. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 14 in G Major, K. 375: IV. Molto Allegro
5. Armida Quartett – String Quartett No. 23 in F Major, K. 590: I. Allegro moderato
6. Armida Quartett – String Quartett No. 23 in F Major, K. 590: II. Allegretto
7. Armida Quartett – String Quartett No. 23 in F Major, K. 590: III. Menuetto. Allegretto – Trio
8. Armida Quartett – String Quartett No. 23 in F Major, K. 590: IV. Allegro
9. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 2 in D Major, K. 155: I. Allegro
10. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 2 in D Major, K. 155: II. Andante
11. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 2 in D Major, K. 155: III. Molto Allegro
12. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 8 in F Major, K. 168: I. Allegro
13. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 8 in F Major, K. 168: II. Andante
14. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 8 in F Major, K. 168: III. Menuetto – Trio
15. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 8 in F Major, K. 168: IV. Allegro
16. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 12 in B-Flat Major, K. 172: I. Allegro spiritoso
17. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 12 in B-Flat Major, K. 172: II. Adagio
18. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 12 in B-Flat Major, K. 172: III. Menuetto – Trio
19. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 12 in B-Flat Major, K. 172: IV. Allegro assai
20. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575: I. Allegretto
21. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575: II. Andante
22. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575: III. Menuetto. Allegretto – Trio
23. Armida Quartett – String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575: IV. Allegretto