Atomos: The Art Of Musical Concentration – Cuarteto Quiroga

To celebrate twenty years of existence, the internationally acclaimed Cuarteto Quiroga returns with a new album – 8th release of their discography– which represents a personal tribute to the genre – and its literature- from its origins to the present day, with a unique perspective.

Featuring works of the three most important and historically influential composers in string quartet history – Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven & Bela Bartok – together with a world premiere recording of Secreta, a recent masterpiece by one of the absolute greatest living composers of our time, Gyorgy Kurtag, ATOMOS is an album that aims to illustrate how these composers, in search for the nucleus of musical expression, and in their desire to compress sound to a particle incapable of further division – in other words, to its atom – gave birth to some of the most striking musical achievements in what is in any case an exceptional repertoire.

In this fascinating journey through the art of musical concentration these four extraordinary composers reveal, through the works here recorded, what is -in music as in life- the most remarkable of gifts, one only within the reach of the greatest: the humility to pare oneself down to the minimal essence and allow the music speak for itself, with the most persuasive eloquence and the most moving kind of beauty.

Formed in 2003, Cuarteto Quiroga takes its name from the Galician violinist Manuel Quiroga, one of the most outstanding string players in Spanish music history. In 2013 they became the first artists in residence of the Royal Palace of Madrid, allowing them to give regular performances on a unique set of decorated Stradivari instruments. Winners of the prestigious 2018 National Music Award of Spain and prizewinners of several major international competitions; Bordeaux, Paolo Borciani, Geneva, Beijing, Fnapec-Paris, Palau Barcelona.

The Cuarteto Quiroga has established itself as one of the most dynamic and unique quartets of its generation, winning international acclaim from critics and audiences alike for its distinctive personality as well as its bold and original approach to the string quartet repertoire.