In today’s episode, quartets of both Dvořák and Fibich side by side: Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 8 in E major, opus 80 from 1876 and Zdenek Fibich’s String Quartet No. 2 in G major, opus 8 from 1878.
Everything in Dvořák’s string quartet sounds both natural and obvious. Brahms must have seen this and his String Quartet No. 9, when he wrote to his publisher: ‘Dvořák wrote all kinds of pieces, Czech operas, symphonies, quartets and piano music. He is without any doubt extremely talented and, what’s more, poor. I beg you to think about it.’
The extremely short scherzo and the finale of Fibich’s quartet in G major bear traces of the Bohemian traditional music. The finale of his work is even unashamedly rustic, something we seldom see in works by Dvořák. Please pay attention to the accompaniment by the hurdy-gurdies.
Antonin Dvořák – String Quartet in E major. (no. 8), opus 80 (1876)
1. Allegro, 2. Andante con moto, 3. Allegro scherzando, 4. Finale Allegro con brio
Performed by: Vogler String Quartet
CD: CPO
Zdenek Fibich – String Quartet in G major, opus 8 (1878)
1. Allegro moderato, 2. Adagio, 3. Scherzo. Allegro scherzando, 4. Finale. Allegro vivace
Performed by: Panocha Quartet
CD: Supraphon
