Buy CDs or cassettes of a live performance of Čiurlionis and Mozart played by the Vilnius Quartet.
The CD and cassette covers feature ‘Friendship’, a beautiful painting by Čiurlionis, who was considered one of the pioneers of abstract art in Europe.
Olivier Messiaen saw him as “a remarkable composer of music and paintings”, while Igor Stravinsky, who owned one of his paintings, described him as “possibly the most talented member of the Russian School at the beginning of this [20th] century”.
The Vilnius Quartet is a most celebrated and acclaimed Lithuanian ensemble, with a truly international reach. It has been in existence since 1965.
According to Dr George Kennaway, the leading UK specialist on Čiurlionis, “It’s an excellent recording of the Čiurlionis quartet (there should be more than there are!). … I’ve heard the Vilnius quartet playing both pieces live in Lithuania, they’re one of the best.”
The full purchase price (excluding P&P and PayPal’s fee) of this recording will go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Vilnius University Children’s Hospital.
Čiurlionis: String Quartet no. 2 in C minor
Mozart: String Quartet in D, K575
Total playing time 45′ 01″