Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.)
Includes the world première recording of the Miniature Suite
The Emperor Quartet was established a decade ago by Martin Burgess, violin; Clare Hayes, violin; Fiona Bonds, viola and William Schofield, cello. They were first British group to win the Evian/Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition where they were also awarded the Mozart and Contemporary Prizes. In their 10th anniversary year the Quartet were nominated for a Grammy award for their recording of Walton String Quartets.
Benjamin Britten: String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36
I. Allegro calmo senza rigore
II. Vivace
III. Chacony: Sostenuto
Benjamin Britten: 3 Divertimentos
No. 1. March: Allegro maestoso
No. 2. Waltz: Allegretto
No. 3. Burlesque: Presto
Benjamin Britten: Miniature Suite
I. Novelette
II. Menuetto
III. Romanza
IV. Gavotte
Benjamin Britten: String Quartet in D major
I. Allegro maestoso
II. Lento ed espressivo
III. Allegro giocoso
26th August 2010
****
“The Emperor Quartet play all three with the right mix of witty insouciance and technical accomplishment, but the group reveals its true colours in the Second Quartet.”
October 2010
“With the quality of the competition so consistently high, do we really need another recording of Britten quartets? When the playing is as outstanding as this, the answer is an irrevocable 'yes'...The inner parts are clearly audible and well-balanced.”
November 2010
*****
“The Emperor Quartet gives a stupendous rendition of the Second Quartet, nuancing it with a fabulously imagined range of colour; it comes across as not only powerful but visionary...There are sounds here that one mightn't have realised a string quartet could make.”
Awards Issue 2010
“In their very different ways these are highly imaginative works and they receive lively, engaging performances here...the Emperor Players...captur[e] the essential Britten style well - salt-sea splashes of sound, straight out of Peter Grimes, in the Vivace - and able to build up the final Chacony as inexorably as any.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
I. Allegro calmo senza rigore
