Stanford: String Quartets, Vol. 3 Dante Quartet

• Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (1852 - 1924): String Quartet No. 1 in G Major, Op. 44:
• 1 String Quartet No. 1 in G Major, Op. 44: I. Allegro assai 08:41
• 2 String Quartet No. 1 in G Major, Op. 44: II. Poco allegro e grazioso - Presto 05:22
• 3 String Quartet No. 1 in G Major, Op. 44: III. Largo con molto espressione 10:21
• 4 String Quartet No. 1 in G Major, Op. 44: IV. Allegro molto 05:08
• String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 45:
• 5 String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 45: I. Molto moderato - Più moto 08:29
• 6 String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 45: II. Prestissimo 02:38
• 7 String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 45: III. Andante espressivo 07:47
• 8 String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 45: IV. Allegro molto 07:46
• String Quartet No. 6 in A Minor, Op. 122:
• 9 String Quartet No. 6 in A Minor, Op. 122: I. Allegro molto moderato 08:24
• 10 String Quartet No. 6 in A Minor, Op. 122: II. Andante quasi lento 07:38
• 11 String Quartet No. 6 in A Minor, Op. 122: III. Allegro scherzando 06:43
• Total Runtime 01:18:57

Info for Stanford: String Quartets, Vol. 3

SOMM Recordings’ historic complete survey of Charles Villiers Stanford’s String Quartets by the Dante Quartet reaches its end with a third volume focusing on Nos. 1 and 2, and the first recording of No. 6. Already acclaimed as a composer of choral music, Stanford came relatively late to the string quartet form, composing his first two at the age of 39 in 1891. Six more followed over the next three decades, including the Op. 122 String Quartet, No. 6 in 1910. This final volume features the early String Quartets, Opp. 44 (No. 1) and 45 (No. 2) which share a concern for meticulous use of individual instrument voices and a leaning towards lyricism. Allusions to Beethoven and Mozart are contained within Stanford’s own beautifully crafted music. Heard here in its premiere recording, the Sixth String Quartet is a work of rich contrasts, restless energy and some of Stanford’s most expressive writing for the medium. Volume I (SOMMCD 0160) was admired as “an excellent disc in every respect” (MusicWeb International), applauded as “most enterprising and thoroughly likeable” (Classical Ear) and acclaimed “a really worthwhile release” (Gramophone). Volume II (SOMMCD 0185) was described as “essential listening... SOMM and the Dantes have broken important new ground with impressive commitment” by Gramophone and by Limelight as being “played with great élan and sensitivity by the excellent Dante Quartet”.

Dante Quartet

The Dante Quartet
Winner of the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award for chamber music in 2007 and a BBC Music Magazine Award in 2009, the Dante Quartet is one of Britain’s finest ensembles. Founded in 1995, the quartet chose Dante’s name to reflect the idea of a great journey. Renowned for its imaginative programming and emotionally charged performances, the Dante Quartet appears at the major UK festivals and music societies, broadcasts on Radio 3 and has also toured France, Germany, Spain, Holland, Poland, Finland and Japan. The quartet has made four highly acclaimed recordings for Hyperion, and for seven years held a residency at King’s College Cambridge. Devoted to the core classics – including the complete Beethoven Quartet cycle – the Dante Quartet equally enjoys bringing to light new or neglected repertoire. Committed also to teaching, the Dante Quartet gives master classes in the UK and runs a high-level chamber music course in the South of France. The quartet has its own annual Dante Summer a Festival in the Tamar Valley, in which they create new musical projects and collaborations, attracting young people to chamber music and building up an enthusiastic audience in intimate and beautiful surroundings.

Booklet for Stanford: String Quartets, Vol. 3