Akhtamar Quartet

Akhtamar Quartet – Enluminures (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 40:48 minutes | 733 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Cypres

Debussy’s string quartet op. 10 was considered perturbing at the time on the Parisian music scene and has since become an absolute staple of quartet repertoire. It sweeps us along the most unexpected harmonic pathways and takes inspiration from sound-worlds as diverse as jazz, gamelan ensembles and Spanish folk music. Rich in colour and exotic tonalities, this poetic masterpiece frees itself from traditional Western customs and stands as a unique bridge between different cultures. It was the famous Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaye’s string quartet who commissioned the work. They later defended it from the many accusations of “too modern”. With Opus 10’s ties to Belgium, France and Armenia, The Akhtamar quartet immediately related to it and placed the piece at the heart of their repertoire. The Akhtamar quartet chose its name in reference to both the ancient Armenian myth and the Komitas Miniatures arranged by Aslamazyan, which they have played with passion since their formation.
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Akhtamar Quartet – Légende arménienne (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 54:52 minutes | 938 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Cypres

The miniatures of Komitas have the merit of being able to condense in a few minutes all aspects of Armenian musical culture. Each of them is an invitation to travel, allowing us to discover the soul of a country through its music, both joyful and nostalgic. Thanks to his arrangements for string quartet, Serguey Aslamazyan gives these miniatures their nobility and amplifies their emotional impact without distorting the message they convey. This message of peace and hope is also the one that Eugénie Alécian wishes to transmit to us with Un quatuor arménien, a powerful work narrating a country that never stops dancing and singing despite the intense pain.

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