String quartets

"Delius ... was discontented with his first (three-movement) attempt and reworked the opening movement and the wistful "Late Swallows" slow movement. Both versions are included here, each characterised by boundless melody, unexpected major-minor shifts and rhythmic buoyancy. The Villiers Quartet, formed in 2011 and specialists in English music (among other things; they are an inquisitive ensemble), play the Delius with zest and passion. Their Elgar, too, is febrile and bold. Fresh playing all round, at budget price".

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"The Villiers Quartet work hard to convince. They make a gorgeous sound, even in Delius's intonation-challenging double-stopped writing ... The finale ... is marked Vigorously, but not even the admirable Villiers can make the music live up to that. The resolute quality at the opening of the Elgar comes as a relief: now at least we know where we're going. But ... the strange central movement ... reveals little of its weird magic, even though the playing is excellent".

"Das junge britische Ensemble tut zu wenig für die Verdeutlichung der Strukturen, taucht dafür alles in einen süsslichen Klang [Elgar] ... Im Delius-Streichquartett, das nur zwei Jahre vor dem Elgars kompiniert wurde, ist das Spiel des Villiers Quartet nicht unbedingt analytischer".