Credits:

Thomas Christian Ensemble

Description:

Karl Weigl is one of the composers associated with decadent music, a genre that has recently been gaining attention. His second release on the CPO label features a combination of his String Quartets No. 7 and No. 8, which were his final works. These two late works were never performed during the composers lifetime: String Quartet No. 7 premiered in New York in 1956, and String Quartet No. 8 premiered at Lincoln Center in 1973. Both pieces are rich, lyrical works that, for compositions of this era, make almost no use of dissonance. However, through harmonic shifts and unique modulations, they effectively convey a sense of nocturnal solitude and a lingering sense of tragedy. The Thomas Christian Ensemble, which performs these works, is a group of virtuoso musicians that includes members of the Vienna Philharmonic. They deliver a masterful performance that brings out the best in each