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The KPAC Blog features classical music news, reviews, and analysis from South Texas and around the world.

Dvorak Dazzles With Cypress Quartet's New Release

The Cypress String Quartet has been together for over 15 years, and the latest project shows their roots - and their uncanny charm in Antonin Dvorak's "Cypresses," & "Opus 106." The album also marks their first recording with Avie Records, having previously produced their own albums and worked with Naxos and Summit Records.

The Cypress Quartet's playing is refined and passionate. Both works on the album are highly crafted, although they come from different times in Dvorak's life, and the quartet allows each to shine. 

Interview highlights:

On the name Cypress

"People often think we named ourselves after the cypress tree, because they are indigenous to the California coast, but actually these wonderful gems by Dvorak are how we chose our name."

On what makes Dvorak special

"What I think really makes his music stick out is the way he uses textures, especially in his 13th quartet on this disc. You'll hear these unbelievable textures of what he is doing with rhythmic feelings with viola, the cello, the 2nd violin, and the interplay between them."

Hear more on Spotify:

John Clare is comfortable behind a microphone, streaming video or playing violin. A former broadcaster for NPR, John has previously worked with Voice of America, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation and stations in Kansas, Nevada, California, and Pennsylvania.