Track Listing

1. Qt, Op.10: I. Anime Et Tres Decide
2. Qt, Op.10: II. Assez Vif Et Bien Rythme
3. Qt, Op.10: III. Andantino, Doucement Expressif
4. Qt, Op.10: IV. Tres Modere - En Animant Peu A Peu - Tres Mouvement Et Avec Passion
5. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: (Libre Et Souple)
6. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: I. Nocturne: Assez Lent -
7. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: Parenthese 1: Tres Libre
8. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: II. Miroir D'espace: Violent -
9. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: Parenthese 2: Libre Et Flexible
10. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: III. Litanies: Anime
11. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: Parenthese 3: Lent
12. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: IV. Litanies 2 -
13. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: Paranthese 4: Anime
14. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: V. Constellations: Vif, Souple Et Libre
15. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: VI. Nocturne 2: Plus Anime
16. 'Ainsi La Nuit' Qt: VII. Temps Suspendu
17. Qt: Allegro Moderato - Tres Doux
18. Qt: Assez Vif - Tres Rythme
19. Qt: Tres Lent
20. Qt: Vif Et Agite

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22208 in Music
• Released on: 2001-02-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Dimensions: .21 pounds
• Running time: 71 minutes

BBC Music Magazine
Chief among many virtues possessed by the Belcea Quartet is the players' youth: they formed in 1994 and are still in their twenties. They do not sound - as some quartets do - as if they have spent the last 40 years hawking around the same pieces of standard repertoire. From the first notes of the Debussy Quartet, one is impressed by the freshness and urgency of their playing. They play the piece not with the assumption that we have all heard it a hundred times, but as if it were a new discovery they were excited about and were desperate to make a case for. Consequently it lives: its colours are vivid and reveal subtle shades we have forgotten about if we ever saw them before.

Between the Debussy and an equally striking Ravel Quartet, the Belcea demonstrates its versatility in Dutilleux's quartet Ainsi la nuit..., where spectral sparseness and melodramatic expressionism are moulded into a coherent whole.

Beyond its youth, the Belcea would not have notched up its impressive list of competition wins if its musicians didn't play with exemplary intonation, and if each was not capable of magically traversing back and forth between foreground and background. The ensemble's plan to record Brahms and Janácek instead of following the stale Shostakovich route is an exciting prospect and is certain to give rise to eager anticipation. The Sixties had the Quartetto Italiano's famous recording; we are fortunate enough to have this from the Belcea.

Performance *****
Sound *****

© BBC Music Magazine 2001

Customer Reviews

Excellent repertoire played by an excellent ensemble
This review must, I suppose, serve two purposes. If on the one hand you do not know the Ravel or Debussy string quartets, buy this cd immediately. This is music of the highest quality, written by composers at the height of their powers, which demonstrates their unique gifts for melody and colour.

For those who might be comparing different discs, then I can make the same recommendation as above, and without the slightest reservation. The Belcea Quartet are one of the most talented new groups performing this repertoire, and they are rapidly establishing themselves as serious competition for the older and more famous groups out there. This is an excellent performance.