About this Artist

• Biography

Editorial Reviews

The Ravel and Debussy string quartets have been, since the moment of their composition, inextricably linked to one another, so much so that Ravel was accused of having copied Debussy's work. Paired in this fashion, the two masterpieces of the string quartet literature have been recorded together countless times, making the distinctions between various recordings as blurred as the soft edges of an Impressionist painting. This recording with the Chilingirian Quartet, widely popular in the United Kingdom, is certainly a strong performance, but doesn't distinguish itself from other recordings in any memorable way. The quartet's playing is generally quite clean, which for some listeners may be a downside if they prefer a more "fuzzy," impressionistic sound. Both quartets contain movements heavily reliant on pizzicato, but this technique is often less rhythmic and dynamic than it could be. The Chilingirian's tone, however, is quite lovely. The slow third movements of both quartets highlight this fact with beautiful solos over lush and warm backdrops. There are a few intonation problems in both quartets, but otherwise this recording is suitable as an introduction to these compositions, though it is not likely to supplant a "favorite" recording in an existing collection. Mike Brownell, All Music Guide

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