Engegård Quartet GRIEG - THOMMESSEN - SIBELIUS

The Engegard Quartet, founded in 2006, releases this album as their first on BIS. The group has become one of the most highly regarded ensembles in Norway, and has also gained international acclaim. This release includes three fantastic string quartets: Edvard Grieg’s String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 27, Jean Sibelius’ String Quartet in D Minor, Op. 56 "Voices intimae" and Olav Anton Thommessen’s Felix Remix "String Quartet No. 4". The Thommesssen piece included on this disc was premiered by Engegard Quartet in 2014. The work is inspired by Felix Mendelssohn’s String Quartet, Op. 44 No. 2.
The Engegårds' ensemble sound is characterful and lit from within by Carlsen and viola player Juliet Jopling. Their performances - lucidly captured by the BIS engineers - live in the moment: they're colorful, fluently paced and feel entirely spontaneous. The more you listen to them the more you begin to sense the intelligence and refinement, as well as the freshness, of these readings. (Gramophone)