Classical Megaupload

"Dutilleux's quartet has to be one of the finest post-war works in the genre. In seven movements (plus interludes) that play without a break, this seventeen minute work conjures up a bewildering variety of nocturnal moods, colours and atmospheres. Yet it is always strongly coherent, the writing unified by the composer's tendency to treat the four instruments of the string quartet as if they were one super-stringed instrument. The performance on this disc is absolutely stunning–the precision of the Arditti Quartet is matched by an imagination and colouristic range that's second to none."

Recensie op Amazon.com

"Il Primo libro di Madrigali", Venedig, 1611, at Gardano

In a memorial from 1651, Heinrich Schutz gave an account of his life, retracting the formative years in Venice from 1609 when he began to "study music with the utmost diligence. With the help of God I attained such fame that after three years (one year before I left Italy for home) I had my first little piece of music printed in Italian, earning extravagant praise from the most distinguished musicians in Venice…"

The artists of this CD are students of the Music University Graz (Austria) and registrations were made in quasi-private performances in October & Dezember 2003. It is a rare disk, running in the University's own small label (KUG 27). In spite of still being scholars, the artists made an outstanding performance!