Dvorak: Cypresses (CD)

Antonin Dvorák's "Cypresses" opus 1 was a cycle of 18 songs, and a source of enduring inspiration that he repeatedly returned to in subsequent decades as a quarry for other works. The original op. 1 cycle, composed for tenor, baritone and piano, has yet to be recorded in its entirety.

Dvorák would later arrange twelve of the "Cypresses" songs as a string quartet. The string quartet version is beautiful in its own right, deepening the emotional experience of the songs as well as existing as an independent work. In order to complete the musical experience of hearing all 18 of the songs in both versions, the composer Hans-Peter Dott arranged the six remaining pieces not originally transcribed by Dvorák for string quartet. Thus, in this recording, we can hear in its entirety the complete "Cypresses" both in their original song version as well as in a lovely string quartet arrangement.