Quatuor Ébène

Although given the number three in the published edition of Beethoven’s Op. 18, it was in fact his first string quartet. Quatuor Ébène steps from the generally light-hearted work’s heavyweight finale into the introspective world of the ‘Serioso’ Quartet. The French ensemble, praised by BBC Music Magazine for the ‘joyous exhilaration and carefree abandon’ of its music making, turns finally to the second of Beethoven’s three ‘Razumovsky’ Quartets, a work of dark intimacy and fiery passions.