Homunculus

Kamus Quartet · Benjamin Britten · Esa-Pekka Salonen · György Ligeti

2018 · Physical and digital · ABCD 409

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Credits

Performers: Kamus Quartet
Composers: Benjamin BrittenEsa-Pekka SalonenGyörgy Ligeti

About this release

"The string quartets you can hear on the disc form an excellent concert program."
The Kamus quartet has developed into a dynamic band with a wide range of expression in its fifteen year journey. An increasingly bolder interpretation has also brought a turbo flavor to the playing. The carelessness and the neglect of the quietest tones tax a bit the enjoyment of Salonen's sonorous flows. Ligeti's overshooting acrobatics, insane pace and combination of impossible elements are convincingly on point. In Britain, Kamus finds his most sensitive state of mind. The duets and solos sound touchingly personal, and after the grotesque interludes, the sliding towards the unknown begins."
Kare Eskola/Yle New records

Tracks

Homunculus
1.Homunculus for String Quartetcomp. Esa-Pekka SalonenISRC FIABA170023713:54
String Quartet no 1
2.Métamorphoses Nocturnescomp. György LigetiISRC FIABA170023821:45
String Quartet no.3 Op.94
3.I Duets with moderate movementcomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA17002395:50
4.II Ostinato very fastcomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA17002403:14
5.III Solo very calmcomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA17002414:53
6.IV Burlesque fast-confuococomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA17002422:11
7.V Recitative and passacaglia (La Serenissima) slowcomp. Esa-Pekka Salonen, György Ligeti, Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA170024310:16

Reviews

Auch wenn es beim ersten Höreindruck, der durch die Ersteinspielung des ‘Homunculus’ als Einstiegsstück vorgeprägt ist, so erscheinen mag, dass die vier besonders kraftvoll spielen, so bestätigt sich dieser Eindruck beim Vergleichshören, Belcea und Lindsays für Britten sowie Arditti bei Ligeti dann doch nicht so.
Pizzicato · Uwe Krusch · December 21, 2017
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The timing is only 62 minutes, so another work could have been accommodated on the album. ‘Homunculus’ is a strikingly performed and recorded album, worthy of significant praise.
MusicWeb International · Michael Cookson · February 13, 2018
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This fine Nordic quartet now has another superb release, this one featuring the premiere recording of Esa-PekkaSalonen’s Homunculus
ClassicalCDReview.com · Robert Benson · March 27, 2018
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Over the last few months I’ve been pleased to sample many offerings of contemporary music which I was afraid might evaporate as smaller labels struggle, but in fact there seems to be a renaissance of superb recordings and performances in increasing numbers.
Audiophile Audition · Mel Martin · April 2, 2018
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Excellent playing and intelligent and thoughtful interpretations make this a highly satisfying disc.
The WholeNote · Terry Robbins · April 25, 2018
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This is an adventurous program of modern and contemporary pieces for string quartet performed by the excellent Kamus Quartet.
American Record Guide · Jack Sullivan · June 25, 2018
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So, this quartet contains the fully formed elements of a complete four-movement quartet—scherzo, slow movement, expository movement and ‘chorale’, compressed into one another into a very small space (a bit less than 1/4 hour).
Records International · July 25, 2018
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For those interested in modern and contemporary music for string quartet, this is a very compelling recital, superbly performed and recorded, and I look forward to hearing more from the Kamus Quartet.
Fanfare · Daniel Morrison · October 10, 2018
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”Levyllä kuultavat jousikvartetot muodostavat oivallisen konserttiohjelman.”
Kamus-kvartetti on viidentoista vuoden taipaleellaan kehittynyt dynaamiseksi ja laajan ilmaisuasteikon hallitsevaksi yhtyeeksi. Yhä rohkeampi tulkintaote on tuonut soittoon myös turboilun makua. Ärhäkkyys ja hiljaisimpien sävyjen laiminlyönti verottavat hivenen Salosen sointivirtojen nautinnollisuutta. Ligetin yliampuva akrobatia, järjetön vauhti ja mahdottomien elementtien yhdistely osuvat vakuuttavasti kohdalleen.…
Yle Uudet levyt · Kare Eskola
”Vaikea kuvitella tätä parempaa kamarimusiikkilevyä”
lainaus Kare Eskolan arvostelusta
Rondo/10-2017
”Kamus-kvartetti on erinomainen nykymusiikin ja 1900-luvun musiikin tulkki, minkä tämä hieno levy osaltaan todistaa. Yhtenäiseksi muodostunut sointi muodostaa rikkaan väripaletin ja taipuu huudoista kuiskauksiin ulottuvaan dynamiikkaan. Sitä tämän levyn teokset vaativat. Kamus saa kuitenkin paljon irti sen hiljaisuuden äänistä, elämän muistoista ja lopun kirkonkello-passacaglian erikoisesta tunnelmasta, jossa intohimot liukenevat valonhämyisään rauhaan.
Kamuslaiset luovat surrealistisen matkan läpi hurjien rytmien, salaperäisten sointien, outojen tanssipätkien ja hiljaisuuden äänten.”
Rondo 10-2017 · Harri Kuusisaari