Quartetto Energie Nove - Bed?ich Smetana: String Quartets

Dating from 1876 and 1883 respectively, Bed?ich Smetana's two string quartets are the Czech composer's most important mature instrumental works. Of the two works, his First Quartet, 'From My Life' proved the more popular, with its clear autobiographical references. The Second Quartet is also a very fine work, which is almost expressionistic in character. The Quartetto Energie Nove takes special care in underlining these exceptionally modern expressive traits in their interpretation. The album also includes two popular instrumental passages from Smetana�s opera The Bartered Bride � the Dance of the Comedians and the Polka � transcribed for string quartet.