Zoltán Székely & Hungarian String Quartet (Remastered 2024) Zoltán Székely & Hungarian String Quartet

• Alexander Glazunov (1865 - 1936): Glazunov Violin Concerto:
• 1 Glazunov: Glazunov Violin Concerto, 1 movement - Moderato 04:19
• 2 Glazunov: Glazunov Violin Concerto, 1 mvmt - Andante 03:50
• 3 Glazunov: Glazunov Violin Concerto, 1 mvmt - Tempo primo 03:58
• 4 Glazunov: Glazunov Violin Concerto, 1 mvmt - Cadenza 03:02
• 5 Glazunov: Glazunov Violin Concerto, 2 mvmt - Allegro 05:51
• Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945): Bartók Romanian Folk Dances No. 1 Jocul cu bâta:
• 6 Bartók: Bartók Romanian Folk Dances No. 1 Jocul cu bâta (arr. Székely) 01:08
• Bartók Romanian Folk Dances No. 3 Pe loc:
• 7 Bartók: Bartók Romanian Folk Dances No. 3 Pe loc (arr. Székely) 00:54
• Bartók Romanian Folk Dances No. 4 Buclumeana:
• 8 Bartók: Bartók Romanian Folk Dances No. 4 Buclumeana (arr. Székely) 01:24
• Bartók Romanian Folk Dances No. 6 Mărunţel:
• 9 Bartók: Bartók Romanian Folk Dances No. 6 Mărunţel (arr. Székely) 01:00
• Bartók String Quartet No. 5:
• 10 Bartók: Bartók String Quartet No. 5, 1 mvmt - Allegro 07:28
• 11 Bartók: Bartók String Quartet No. 5, 2 mvmt - Adagio molto 05:36
• 12 Bartók: Bartók String Quartet No. 5, 3 mvmt - Scherzo: Alla bulgarese 04:42
• 13 Bartók: Bartók String Quartet No. 5, 4 mvmt - Andante 04:31
• 14 Bartók: Bartók String Quartet No. 5, 5 mvmt - Finale: Allegro vivace 06:52
• Bartók String Quartet No. 6:
• 15 Bartók: Bartók String Quartet No. 6, 1 mvmt - Mesto – Più mosso, pesante –Vivace 07:04
• 16 Bartók: Bartók String Quartet No. 6, 2 mvmt - Mesto – Marcia 07:19
• 17 Bartók: Bartók String Quartet No. 6, 3 mvmt - Mesto – Burletta – Moderato 06:37
• 18 Bartók: Bartók String Quartet No. 6, 4 mvmt - Mesto 05:55
• Total Runtime 01:21:30

Info for Zoltán Székely & Hungarian String Quartet (Remastered 2024)

Zoltán Székely is remembered today as the first violinist of the famed Hungarian String Quartet but he was also a distinguished soloist in his own right. He studied with the legendary Jeno Hubay and was rated the one of the finest Hungarian soloist of his generation. The Glazunov Concerto featured on this album was the only commercial concerto recording Székely’s ever made. Also featured is the violinist’s celebrated transcription of Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances. Székely performed frequently with Bartók in recital, and was the dedicatee of the composer’s Second Rhapsody.

As leader of the Hungarian String Quartet, Székely displays his authoritative command as a chamber musician. The Quartet was particularly renowned for their Beethoven cycle, and made the definitive recordings of Bartók’s six quartets. The HSQ’s recordings of the composer’s Fifth and Sixth Quartets included here were made in 1946 and 1949 respectively, and have particular relevancy as they were coached by the composer himself.

Zoltán Székely, violin Hungarian String Quartet

Digitally remastered

Zoltán Székely
was born in 1903 in Kocs, Hungary. As a young student at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Szekely was influenced by well known composers and musicians such as Zoltan Kodaly, Zeno Hubay and especially Bela Bartok, with whom he developed a lifelong friendship and professional relationship. On graduation, he launched a successful solo concert career, performing throughout Europe and particularly championing contemporary compositions. In 1926 he married "Mientje" Igminia Everts and they resided in the Netherlands, Germany, Monte Carlo and London, to facilitate his music career. They had one son.

Szekely was the first violinist of the Hungarian String Quartet from 1937 until they disbanded in 1972.During these years the Quartet performed throughout the world and achieved renown for their performances of Bartok and Beethoven. They moved from Europe to the United States in 1950, where they were Artists-in-Residence at colleges in California, Maine and Colorado, coaching young quartets.

In 1972 Szekely was invited by Tom Rolston to become artist-in-residence at The Banff Centre, where he remained until his death in 2001.

Further details can be found in the biography "Szekely and Bartok: The Story of a Friendship" by Claude Kenneson (1994).

Booklet for Zoltán Székely & Hungarian String Quartet (Remastered 2024)