While producing a string of hit scores for MGM such as the Oscar-winning Ben Hur, MiklÃ³s RÃ³zsa (1907-1995) continued to add to his distinguished catalogue of works in classical forms, often writing in a more abstract and severe style than his late-Romantic music for the movies. RÃ³zsa himself remarked that 'in 1948, a new style began to appear in my Piano Sonata-more percussive, contrapuntal, aggressive. The String Quartet [No.1, 1950] continued in this vein. Maybe it was an inner protest against the excessive amount of conventional music I had had to write for conventional pictures.' In terms of influence, the tone of the Quartet (dedicated to Peter Ustinov) is closer to his teacher KodÃ¡ly than that of BartÃ³k even in the driven second movement, though even the intense lyricism of the third movement scarcely contains an angry mood which is finally resolved by the exhilarating finale. The more conventionally Romantic strains of the String Trio date from RÃ³zsa's student days at the Leipzig Conservatoire in 1927, assimilating Brahms as well as the edgier work of his Hungarian elders. Breitkopf & HÃ¤rtel published the work in 1929 as Op.1, but in 1974, the composer made major revisions to the original score, including numerous cuts, for it's first recording. The String Trio, as presented here, is the world premiere recording of the work as it was originally composed by. Breitkopf & HÃ¤rtel published the work in 1929 as Op.1. In 1974, RÃ³zsa made major cuts to the original score for it's first recording. The ensemble merian presents the full, original version of the trio.

UPC: 5028421962306
Label: Brilliant Classics
Release Date: 5.28.21
Format: CD

Herrmann / Ensemble Merian - Music For String Quartet (CD)