Kletzki: The Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1 (World Premiere Recordings)

This double-disc release presents the complete string quartets of Paweł Klecki (Paul Kletzki) in the first-ever world premiere recording, performed by the Bacewicz String Quartet. Known internationally as a distinguished 20th-century conductor, Klecki’s achievements as a composer have long remained overshadowed. These quartets—written between the early 1920s and 1942—reveal a compelling late-Romantic voice navigating the stylistic tensions between tradition and modernity. The String Quartet No. 1 in A minor, Op. 1 (1923) reflects a young composer deeply rooted in 19th-century structural models, balancing lyrical expressivity with rhythmic drive. Quartet No. 2 in C minor, Op. 13 (1925) demonstrates greater formal integration and harmonic boldness, with intensified narrative continuity and heightened dramatic coherence. The Third Quartet in D minor, Op. 23 (1931) refines Klecki’s textural control, favouring blended sonorities and contrapuntal nuance over overt instrumental display. The Fourth Quartet (1942), preserved in manuscript form and edited for performance, ventures into more exploratory harmonic territory, suggesting a response—albeit measured—to developments associated with the Second Viennese School. Recorded in July 2025 at the Chamber Hall of the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź, this project coincides with the 125th anniversary of Klecki’s birth. The Bacewicz String Quartet delivers performances of clarity, intensity, and structural understanding, restoring these substantial works to the chamber repertoire. Total timing: Volume 1 – 75:12 Volume 2 – 64:38

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Bacewicz String Quartet