This album presents the first complete recording of Charles Gounod's string quartets on period instruments.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Charles Gounod, composer of these quartets, deliberately aligned himself with the Viennese masters, especially Mozart, whom he revered.
Composer Biography
Gounod's interest in string quartets was long-standing, with early sketches dating back to 1842-1843 in Vienna.
Instruments
The violins, viola, and cello used by the Quatuor Cambini-Paris for this recording are all antique Italian instruments from Turin, made by Giuseppe Antonio Rocca, Francesco Pressenda, and Antonio Guadagnini.
Recording & Production
The recording sessions took place in the Galerie dorée of the Banque de France, a historic venue with extraordinary acoustics.
Compositional Technique
Gounod ensured a tangible link between movements in his quartets, with third and fourth movements often beginning with modulatory bars leading to new keys.
Interpretation
The Quatuor Cambini-Paris performs on four antique Italian instruments loaned through the "Adopt a Musician" project by MusicMasterpieces.
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Fugues for String Quartet
Haydn: Baryton Trios, Cassation and Quintet
Brahms & Joachim: Chamber Works
Gragnani: 3 Duos for Violin and Guitar, Op. 8
Corbetta: La guitarre royalle
Sterkel: Sonatas for Fortepiano and Violin
Grétry: Airs & Ballets
Neukomm, S.R. Von: Grand Concerto, Op. 12 / Fantasie, Op. 11 / Scena Composta Per La Signora Hunnuius
Rigel: Symphonies Nos. 4, 7, 8, 10 & 14
Gerson: Overture in D Major / Symphony in E-Flat Major / Kunzen: Symphony in G Minor
