Don wrote:

>Vasks string quartets played by the Miami String Quartet on Conifer.
>Weren't we told that Conifer was closing shop a few months ago?

I picked up this one recently.  It features the quartets 1-3 (its
mentioned in the booklet that Vasks just finished a 4th one).  These are
amazing works, especially the 2nd quartet!  Vasks plays more with sounds
than with melodies and employs a kind of non-repetitive minimalism or
scarce simplicity.  Some might think this music is too dark or cold, but
for me it is wonderful peaceful muisc.  Somehow a real sound of silence!
The performance is good and the sound excellent, though I think the
recording of the 2nd quartet by the Duke Quartet (on Collins) is slightly
superior.  I was also surprised to see this release as I expected Conifer
to shut down...maybe its their last utterance?

>Cerha string quartets on CPO performed by the Arditti Quartet. This is
>the pick of the month.

This one is really a gem!  Some might remember Cerhas name as the one who
completed and prepared for performance the 3rd act of Bergs Lulu.  Some
people were complaining that this was done by a *second rate* composer
but as this new release shows Cerha is certainly not!  In the vein of the
second Viennes school Cerha developes his own style including African and
Arabic (!) tunes.  You will find the 3 string quartets (from the 8ties and
9ties) and a string sextet on this disc.  Again the Arditis proof their
leading role in performing 20ties century string quartets!

Achim Breiling