The Chilingirian Quartet's latest line-up is heard in full glory on this sumptuous Hyperion compact disc of late nineteenth century French quartets. Readers will be forgiven for failing in their knowledge of the string music of Ernest Chausson and Vincent D'Indy, but hopefully this release will serve as an elegant introduction. The disc consists of two quartets, D'Indy's first quartet and the unfinished quartet by Chausson, which was completed by D'Indy following Chausson's sudden demise in a fatal pushbike accident in 1899.

...the 'Chillies' really make this music dance.

The sinuous opening material of the Chausson, sonorously played, introduces the material for the whole movement; its drama is fully realised with passionate playing from all quarters. The lyrical second movement offers some exquisite violin playing and radiant solos from the quartet's latest violist, Asdis Valdimarsdottir. There are musical quotations aplenty, acknowledging the opening material of Debussy's G minor quartet in the first movement and a motif from Wagner's Das Rheingold in the slow movement. Both are, arguably, loaded statements. These and other issues are given interesting thought in the detailed programme notes. However beautiful the themes though, and there certainly are a good few, the music has a tendency to meander, and one longs for a bit more wild abandon, something D'Indy gives in plenty. This piece is a real tour de force and it is a shame that, because of the use of a different recording location, this particular quartet lacks some of the lustre of the first work. No less admirable though is the playing.

D'Indy, a student of Cesar Franck, adopted traditional structures, including the unifying cyclic form often associated with Franck. He was keen to place his work firmly in the Germanic tradition. The music belies the desire and the need to adhere to recognised forms; it is refreshingly gritty, with moments of intense lyricism. The 'Chillies' really make this music dance. Just listen to the way they handle the sparkling runs in the Russian folk-inspired third movement. This is a classy recording.

The Almira String Quartet