Kurtág, György - Kurtág: Moments Musicaux & Officium breve; Dvorák: String Quintet op. 97 - Parker Quartet

The Boston-based Parker Quartet, praised by the Washington Post for its "exceptional virtuosity and imaginative interpretation," makes its debut on the ECM New series with music by György Kurtág. They are joined by violist Kim Kashkashian, one of the quartet's early mentors, who plays Dvo?ák. In this program of powerful contrasts, Dvo?ák's String Quintet No. 3, composed in America in 1893, is framed by two of Kurtág's focused and meticulously crafted works – Six Moments musicaux (2005) and Officium breve in memoriam Andreae Szervánszky (1988/89). The Parker Quartet's sense of color and texture is evident throughout. The quartet's interpretation of Kurtág's sound world has developed as a result of extensive collaboration with the Hungarian composer. The album was recorded at Radio DRS studio in Zurich.