{"product_id":"humperdinck-string-quartets","title":"Humperdinck: String Quartets","description":"\u003cb\u003eAgreeable geniality: benign, attractive melodically with gloriously yearning themes.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e There are a number of composers who are best known almost exclusively for writing one particular work from a substantial compositional output. The principal names that spring to mind are Gustav Holst for  \u003cem\u003eThe Planets\u003c\/em\u003e; Max Bruch for his  \u003cem\u003eFirst Violin Concerto\u003c\/em\u003e and Carl Orff for  \u003cem\u003eCarmina Burana\u003c\/em\u003e. Falling into this category is the German late-Romantic composer Engelbert Humperdinck who is really only known for his much loved opera  \u003cem\u003eHänsel und Gretel\u003c\/em\u003e composed in 1891\/92. Based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale the composer described his score as a  \u003cem\u003eMärchenoper\u003c\/em\u003e (Fairytale opera- based on Brothers Grimm). The richly scored opera has become inextricably associated with children and families, and is traditionally performed at Christmas time.\u003cbr\u003e   \u003cbr\u003e  Humperdinck wrote a considerable number of works in several genres including a number of stage works but none have come anywhere close to attaining the popularity of  \u003cem\u003eHänsel und Gretel\u003c\/em\u003e. I am told that the  \u003cem\u003eKönigskinder\u003c\/em\u003e (The King’s Children) is sometimes staged but I have never come across it. Contained on this CPO release are six chamber scores the majority of which were composed in the 1870s and only published in recent years with the exception being the  \u003cem\u003eString quartet in C major\u003c\/em\u003e from 1919\/20.\u003cbr\u003e   \u003cbr\u003e  The earliest work on the release is the single movement  \u003cem\u003eMenuet in E flat major for Piano Quintet\u003c\/em\u003e marked  \u003cem\u003eAllegro\u003c\/em\u003e composed in 1872 as an alternative for a Christmas programme. Bearing a dedication to Johannes Degen, a judge and amateur violinist, the substantial  \u003cem\u003eString Quartet Movement in E minor\u003c\/em\u003e was written in 1873. With regard to completing the score Humperdinck got as far as sketching out another two movements. Cast in three movements, the  \u003cem\u003ePiano Quintet in G major\u003c\/em\u003e was completed in 1875. It seems that it was played by Johannes Degen music group in which Humperdinck would sometimes stand in as the pianist. The score of the central  \u003cem\u003eAdagio\u003c\/em\u003e bears an inscription to the memory of Humperdinck’s sister Ernestine who died aged only seventeen. In the concluding  \u003cem\u003eAllegro\u003c\/em\u003e Humperdinck blends a  \u003cem\u003eScherzo\u003c\/em\u003e with a  \u003cem\u003eRondo\u003c\/em\u003e. The  \u003cem\u003eString Quartet Movement in C minor\u003c\/em\u003e takes around 7 minutes. Humperdinck won the Frankfurt Mozart prize with the C minor score. The  \u003cem\u003eNotturno for Violin and String Quartet in G major\u003c\/em\u003e is marked  \u003cem\u003eAndante tranquillo.\u003c\/em\u003e After its completion in October 1879 Humperdinck before the ink was almost dry prepared an alternative arrangement of the score for violin and piano doing away the quartet. Cast in three movements the  \u003cem\u003eString Quartet in C major\u003c\/em\u003e was written some thirty years after  \u003cem\u003eHänsel und Gretel\u003c\/em\u003e and is Humperdinck’s final chamber score. Humperdinck explained that the central  \u003cem\u003eGemächlich\u003c\/em\u003e (Leisurely) is a contrasting combination of a slow movement and  \u003cem\u003eScherzo\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e   \u003cbr\u003e  Irrespective of the tempi indications Humperdinck’s undemanding writing tends to inhabit a similar mood. The prevailing character of the slow movements is one of agreeable geniality: benign, highly attractive melodically with gloriously yearning themes. The outer movements, although occasionally squally and moderately windswept, offer more of the same but with a quicker speed. There’s no whiff of German  \u003cem\u003eSturm und Drang\u003c\/em\u003e or late-Romantic Wagnerian or Straussian excess in any of Humperdinck’s chamber scores. Owing to the lack of stylistic, melodic and dynamic contrast one can understand why these scores have remained neglected for so long. Out of the six Humperdinck works the  \u003cem\u003eString Quartet\u003c\/em\u003e (1919\/20) with its catchy central movement  \u003cem\u003eGemächlich\u003c\/em\u003e is certainly agreeable as is the  \u003cem\u003eNotturno for violin and string quartet\u003c\/em\u003e but it is the  \u003cem\u003ePiano Quintet\u003c\/em\u003e that I consider to be the finest. Without plumbing great emotional depths I also greatly enjoyed the central  \u003cem\u003eAdagio\u003c\/em\u003e of the  \u003cem\u003ePiano Quintet\u003c\/em\u003e for its tender yearning quality; serving as a fine tribute to Humperdinck’s deceased sister Ernestine.\u003cbr\u003e   \u003cbr\u003e  The Diogenes Quartet is a Munich based ensemble and was founded in 1996. The Diogenes number the Amadeus and La Salle quartets amongst their teachers. I couldn’t fault the beautiful playing of the Diogenes who adopts a straightforward unadorned style that feels wholly convincing. Glorious string tone and impeccable ensemble are trademarks of this first-rate quartet. For the  \u003cem\u003ePiano quintet in G major\u003c\/em\u003e and the  \u003cem\u003eMenuet for piano quintet\u003c\/em\u003e the Diogenes are augmented by pianist Andreas Kirpal who makes a terrific contribution sharing this music with tightly matched teamwork. The  \u003cem\u003eNotturno for violin and string quartet in G major\u003c\/em\u003e is a real find with the Diogenes joined by Lydia Dubrovskaya who takes the solo violin part. With assurance and refined musicianship Dubrovskaya plays this nocturne quite beautifully. I can easily imagine this score becoming quite a hit on a Classic FM Relaxing Classics programme.\u003cbr\u003e   \u003cbr\u003e  The recording was made at the August Everding Saal, Grünwald on the outskirts of Munich and the sound quality is spectacular. It’s vividly clear and superbly balanced too which is something that I rarely encounter where piano and string quartets are concerned. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.diogenes-quartett.de\/bilder\/Diogenes_Quartett_Biographie.pdf\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e   \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.diogenes-quartett.de\/bilder\/Diogenes_Quartett_Biographie.pdf\"\u003e \u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  -- Michael Cookson, MusicWeb International\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"CPO","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":49605010456856,"sku":"761203754724","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/4346\/3192\/files\/1957432.jpg?v=1747173866","url":"https:\/\/hbdirect.com\/products\/humperdinck-string-quartets","provider":"HBDirect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}