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- Verified Buyer
The long-lived Ján Levoslav Bella (1843-1936) wrote several operas and large-scale choral and orchestral works, but is currently represented in the catalogue (as far as I know) only by his chamber and piano music. Based on the available music, however, further exploration of the composer seems to be warranted (Sterling, for instance?). Despite the heavy reliance on Schumann and Dvorak (sounding sometimes a little too much like a watered down version of the latter), Bella was clearly a skilled and imaginative composer - inventively employing Slovak folk music, for instance - and the disc here is thus very welcome.The e minor quartet is a relatively early work, dating from 1871, and rather conservative although very well-crafted. The opening movement begins with a bold first subject asserted by the first violin leading to a gentler second and closing theme going through the usual contrapuntal twists and turns - but with some creative modulations and gestures. The Adagio makes inventive use of a lyrical theme first given by the viola, but the material isn't quite distinguished enough to make a real impact. The third movement is a lilting and rather attractive scherzo while the fourth opens with a largo and launches, predictably enough, into a fugue based on the secondary theme before reaching a triumphant conclusion. It is overall a fine and enjoyable, if not very memorable, work, worth a listen or two but not much more.The B flat major quartet - Bella's last - dates from 1887, and is altogether a stronger work. The first movement is in classical form, but has some clear and boldly characterized themes which are subjected to a skillfully wrought development and recapitulation. The wistfully lyrical Andante sostenuto is also eminently worthwhile and the Scherzo movement well-crafted, tonally ambiguous and quite attractive. The final movement rondo is more four-square, but still fine enough. The Notturno for string quartet dates from 1930 and is somewhat - but not much - more forward-looking harmonically. The first movement, at least, subjects its C minor theme to some interesting chromatic explorations, while the a minor second movement Larghetto is darkly wistful and reflective. The final movement is based on a folk theme, imaginatively used in a harmonically ambiguous setting. Overall, this is a rather interesting work, and probably the most worthwhile on the disc.The Moyzes Quartet provides generally very fine and sure-footed performances, if a little rough around the edges - some of the movements could need a slightly warmer, fuller string tone, but they are generally more than satisfiable. In sum, this is a very recommendable release - especially to fans of Dvorak's chamber music - of worthwhile music from a composer worth exploring further.
