String Quartets 1 & 2

'In the hands of the Chilingirian these works receive their best possible advocacy. Superbly played' (Classic CD)

'High-class playing and recording' (Gramophone)

'In every way a thoroughly worthwhile issue' (Classic FM Magazine)

Franz Liszt, writing about Grieg's String Quartet No 1, declared: 'It is long time since I have encountered a new composition, especially a string quartet, which has intrigued me as greatly as this distinctive and admirable work by Grieg'. Grieg himself said that his quartet '... aims at breadth; to soar, and above all at a vigorous sound for the instruments for which it is written.' In 1891, Edvard Grieg started his second quartet, but sadly lacked inspiration and time to finish the last two movements. Levon Chilingirian of the Chilingirian Quartet has studied the original manuscripts of the first two movements (which have many clarifying instructions added by Julius Röntgen in preparation for their printing by C F Peters in 1908) and prepared the third and fourth movements especially for this recording. This is therefore a first recording of the completed String Quartet No 2.

Recorded in St George's, Brandon Hill, on 8, 9, 10 December 1998