String Quartets Nos 1 6 Stephen Salters Bar Borromeo Quartet; Cypress Quartet

This new release by the Vilnius String Quartet presents two exciting gems in 20th century chamber music: the first two String Quartets by Lithuanian composer Jurgis Karnaviius (1884-1941) as world premiere recordings.

The Vlach Quartet on Naxos give well-played, impassioned accounts of both Quartets and are warmly recorded. Moreover, the account of the Violin Sonata by Jana Vlachová and František Maly is very fine, and the Pohádka for Cello and Piano is given as touching and imaginative a performance by Mikael Ericsson as any in the catalogue.

In all three quartets the Borodin play with an easy authority and what seems to be perfect style. There are no obvious interpretative quirks, there's nothing showy to get between the music and the listener, and it is evident that these musicians are thoroughly immersed in the authentic Russian tradition of playing Tchaikovsky's music. Technically and tonally they are first rate, and they combine well with the two excellent extra players in Souvenir de Florence.

The Lindsay Quartet have set a high standard of Tippett interpretation, with that special authority that stems from working on the music with the composer. Whatever else Tippett has done, he has not inhibited these players: their performances are characterized by a distinctive freshness and spontaneity, a well-balanced homogeneity of texture and a fine sense of rhythmic flow, essential if the music is not to coagulate around its multitude of contrapuntal details.

The renowned American music magazine Fanfare called the first cpo production featuring Gaetano Donizettis string quartets a compelling demonstration on behalf of some of the most dazzling works of the quartet literature. Now the Pleyel Quartet of Cologne, which during the course of its existence has gained fame above all for its rediscoveries of forgotten masterpieces of the string quartet literature, presents three more quartets by the Bergamo master his early Quartets Nos. 1-3. Performed on original instruments, these quartets offer astonishing examples of Donizettis compositional talent. Since they are obliged to an older ideal, they combine seriousness and delightful sound; both technically and musically, demanding and entertaining elements maintain a balance.

The Vlach Quartet on Naxos give well-played, impassioned accounts of both Quartets and are warmly recorded. Moreover, the account of the Violin Sonata by Jana Vlachová and František Maly is very fine, and the Pohádka for Cello and Piano is given as touching and imaginative a performance by Mikael Ericsson as any in the catalogue.

A first listen to the music of Gloria Coates is a breath of fresh air. Here is a genuinely contemporary sound, one that emerges naturally from our time and culture. Here are sounds to express our sense of time, space, movement and activity. There is no sense of is referentiallism. What a relief! There is no rehashing of someone else's style , whether from 10 or 500 years ago. There is no wilful difficulty to this music or the collaging of disparate influences.