Conrado del Campo: String Quartets Nos. 8 & 9

[Alan Howe]

...forthcoming from MarchVivo - two substantial late-romantic works:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9622972--conrado-del-campo-string-quartets-nos-8-9

[Ilja]

Del Campo has become mainly known for his quartets, which run the gamut from (literal) melodrama to a kind of dance suite. He is a bit of an exception among Spanish composers for his incorporation of German influences (inclusing the use of Wagner-like Leitmotifs), particularly earlier in his career. However, his reputation has rather suffered because of his unwavering support for Franco's regime, and his part in creating an arch-conservative artistic climate during the dictatorship. A bit like a Spanish Max von Schillings, although not nearly as nasty. It seems that recently something of a revival has started. 

The 8th quartet is a work that I would qualify as "lean" both in its melodies and instrumentalization, but I did think it had some trouble sustaining interest for its entire 45+ minutes. Over two decades later, he worked it into a piano quintet with the title "Episodio de una vida combatida y dolorosa" (Episode of a life of struggle and pain). That one's perhaps a tad too substantial at over an hour. I didn't know the 9th quartet, but from the samples that quartet sounds a bit more entertaining than its predecessor. 

[eschiss1]

Thanks for even this lukewarm recommendation and interesting and unfortunate history of choices - I feel inclined to at least sample something of his, not having heard of composer or work.

[Ilja]

I have to confess that the one recording I have of the 8th Quartet is not of stellar quality, so the Diotima Quartet (who already recorded several of Del Campo's quartets) are bound to do a better job. Still, that opening movement of the 8th still feels interminable to me, which isn't helped by the lack of dynamic variation.

The 9th seems like a much more attractive piece. They've uploaded a movement to YouTube:

By the way, Del Campo did write some gorgeous music, but it's a bit "on" or "off" with him, it seems. The Fifth Quartet (which the Diotima also recorded) is a very strong work in my view, and there are a few excellent symphonic pieces from the same period as the 8th Quartet – the Straussian symphonic poem Granada being one.