Leonkoro Quartet's Out of Vienna: A Blazing Exploration of Viennese Modernism
The Leonkoro Quartet, founded in Berlin in 2019, has quickly established itself as a formidable force in the classical music scene. Having won first prize and nine special awards at the 2022 Wigmore Hall international string quartet competition, this young ensemble is no stranger to the UK. Their latest album, Out of Vienna, released on the Alpha label, delves into the rich and complex world of Viennese modernism, offering a blazing exploration of three composers who defined the musical cutting-edge in the Austrian capital around the Great War.
A Fiercely Alert Account of Berg, Webern, and Schulhoff
In this new disc, the quartet presents a fiercely alert account of works by Alban Berg, Anton Webern, and Erwin Schulhoff. These composers embody the seismic shifts in music that characterised Vienna in the early 20th century, capturing the city's prewar musical fault lines with remarkable precision. The album serves as a vivid snapshot of a time when traditional harmonies were being shattered and new forms of expression were emerging.
Berg's Lyric Suite: Mood and Sensuality
The Leonkoro Quartet's interpretation of Alban Berg's Lyric Suite is a standout. Berg, along with Webern, took Arnold Schoenberg's theories of free atonality and the 12-tone system in distinct directions. The Lyric Suite, a fervent outpouring dedicated to his mistress, is rendered with moody sensuality. The quartet aptly captures the intense, intricate nature of this music, with the Andante Amoroso swooning, the Allegro Misterioso tiptoeing on muted strings, and the Presto Delirando evoking a positively coital energy. The playing is unflinching, seething with imaginative detail that brings Berg's emotional landscape to life.
Webern's Pioneering Atonality
Anton Webern's Five Pieces from 1909 are effectively the first atonal string quartet, serving as a memorial to his mother. The composer's dynamic variety and breadth of imagination are astonishing, and the Leonkoro Quartet meets this challenge with maturity and expressivity. From just four years earlier, Webern's Langsamer Satz stands as the most overtly romantic piece he ever wrote, offering a musical case of the road not taken. The quartet's handling of these works highlights the stark contrasts and innovations that defined Webern's output.
Schulhoff's Quirky Interlude
Spliced between Berg and Webern as a palate cleanser is Erwin Schulhoff's Five Pieces, a quirky suite that runs the gamut from a slyly sent-up Viennese waltz to a louche Argentine tango. The Czech-born composer embraced many musical styles throughout his career, but here he seems to be thoroughly enjoying his absurdist phase. The Leonkoro Quartet delivers this with top-tier playing and recorded sound, adding a playful and diverse element to the album's exploration of Viennese modernism.
Conclusion: A Masterful Contribution to Classical Music
Out of Vienna is more than just an album; it is a masterful contribution to the understanding of Viennese modernism. The Leonkoro Quartet's intense, intricate performances not only honour the legacy of Berg, Webern, and Schulhoff but also showcase their own technical prowess and artistic sensitivity. This disc is a must-listen for classical music enthusiasts and anyone interested in the revolutionary sounds of early 20th-century Vienna.
