Album Review: Квартет N 6 Квартет by Квартет Имени Н. Лысенко
Released in 1978 under the iconic Soviet label Мелодия, Квартет N 6 Квартет is a gem of modern classical music that feels like it’s been plucked straight out of time. This album isn’t your run-of-the-mill string quartet collection—it’s thoughtful, intricate, and deeply evocative. The ensemble, named after Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko, brings together four masterful musicians who breathe life into two substantial works: Квартет Для Двух Скрипок, Альта И Виолончели (Quartet for Two Violins, Viola, and Cello) and Квартет № 6. With its rich textures and emotional depth, this record deserves a spot on any serious classical listener's shelf.
Let’s dive into a couple of standout tracks. First up is "Allegro, Con Dolce Maniera", the opening movement of the first quartet. It grabs you right away with its elegant interplay between violins—courtesy of Анатолий Баженов and Борис Скворцов—and Юрий Холодов’s warm viola tones. What makes this track unforgettable is how effortlessly it shifts moods; one moment it’s playful and light, the next it’s introspective and almost haunting. You can tell these guys weren’t just playing notes—they were telling stories. It’s the kind of piece that sneaks up on you when you least expect it, lingering in your mind long after the last bow stroke fades.
Then there’s "Larghetto Quasi Andante", the fourth movement of the same quartet. If “Allegro” feels like a conversation among friends, this one’s more like overhearing someone pour their heart out late at night. Леонид Краснощек’s cello work here is particularly breathtaking. He doesn’t just play—he sings through his instrument, adding layers of melancholy and yearning. Paired with the subtle rubato from the rest of the quartet, it creates an atmosphere so intimate you might feel guilty listening to it alone. There’s something raw about this track, as if the players are letting you in on a secret they’ve kept hidden for years.
What strikes me most about this album is its balance between technical precision and emotional honesty. These musicians don’t just execute—they connect. Under the supervision of К. Симонян and with engineering handled by Ю. Винник, every note comes across crystal clear without losing the human touch. Even the liner notes by Т. Карышева add a nice layer of context, though truthfully, the music speaks for itself.
Looking back, what surprises me is how timeless this album feels despite being born out of the USSR’s cultural landscape in the late ‘70s. In a world obsessed with flashy trends and instant gratification, Квартет N 6 Квартет reminds us that beauty often lies in restraint. And hey, maybe that’s why it slipped under the radar for so long—it doesn’t scream for attention. Instead, it waits patiently, confident that anyone willing to listen will find something extraordinary within its quiet brilliance.
Final thought? Listening to this album feels like finding an old photograph tucked away in a dusty drawer. At first glance, it seems unassuming, but the longer you stare, the more you realize how much history lives inside it.
