HELMUT LACHENMANN: Streichquartette

“The three quartets provide a commentary on each other and the time in which they were composed. Gran Torso has something of an investigation about it, of a broaching, of forays into critical new land. Reigen designates the sounds and techniques of two very different regions. Grido gains a new expressiveness– the land of music is freely praised and celebrated, although never without reflexive refraction or arousing disturbance. At the end of the chorale there comes a sharp crack, a bark, before the music collapses.” (Martin Kaltenecker)