Joseph Haydn:
Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, Hob. XX/1B - I. Introduction, V. Ach, mich dürstet

Francesco Ciurlo:
Hasta pulverizarse los ojos

Franz Schubert:
String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D.810, ‘Death and the Maiden’ - III. Scherzo, Allegro molto

Bela Bartok:
String Quartet No. 6, Sz. 114

Dmitri Shostakovich:
String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110 - I. Largo

Birke Bertelsmeier:
Krise

Steve Reich:
WTC 9/11 - III. WTC

Soghomon Soghomonian (Komitas):
Spring

Felix Mendelssohn:
String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80 - II. Adagio

Bedrich Smetana:
String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, ‘From My Life’ - IV. Vivace

Leos Janacek:
String Quartet No. 1, JW 7/8, ‘Inspired by Tolstoy’s Kreutzer Sonata’

Oscar Escudero:
Post

We live in a time of turmoil, flux, stress and crisis. The stresses and strains of modern life during and after the pandemic, war raging in Ukraine, climate change, energy shortages, soaring cost of living, large numbers of refugees seeking safe haven, lack of trust in our leaders – this is the reality of life in the 2020s. The Kuss Quartet’s new album draws upon music composed over the past 250 years that embraces emotional turmoil, suffering, and psychological stresses. Some of the music was composed during periods of deep personal trauma for the composers. This very same music can also bring about a mood of reflection, solace, and contemplation. This is music for our times, as powerful and relevant now as it was when new.

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Recording: Kornspeicher, Dorfmühle, Lehrberg, Germany, 6–9 December 2021.