Smetana- String Quartets Nos.1 and 2- Sibelius- Voces intimae Op.56

Interestingly, Smetana and Sibelius, both renowned for their skillful dealing with symphonic forces, turned to the intimacy of the string quartet form at specific points of crisis in their lives. Smetana s first quartet, subtitled From my life, musically chronicles his youth, loves and vocation, culminating with the onset of his deafness. The turbulent second quartet serves as a sequel. The musical language is adventurous and unusual, speaking movingly of the composer s loss of his hearing. Voces intimae is an intense precursor to Sibelius tormented fourth symphony, written at a time of profound depression. On this CD, BBC Music Magazine award winners the Dante Quartet are featured in their third recording for Hyperion.