Bennett: Piano Sextet, Chamber Trio & String Quartet Villiers Quartet, Jeremy Young & Leon Bosch

• William Sterndale Bennett (1816 - 1875): Piano Sextet in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 8:
• 1 I. Allegro moderato ma con passione 13:04
• 2 II. Scherzo. Quasi presto 07:55
• 3 III. Andante grazioso 07:13
• 4 IV. Finale. Allegro assai ed energico 10:24
• Chamber Trio in A Major, Op. 26:
• 5 I. Andante tranquillo ma con moto 07:59
• 6 II. Serenade. Andante ma un poco scherzando 04:00
• 7 III. Finale. Allegro fermato 07:15
• String Quartet in G Major, WoO 17:
• 8 I. Allegro moderato 06:44
• 9 II. Adagio 04:44
• 10 III. Menuetto. Allegro 02:44
• 11 IV. Finale. Allegro 04:38
• Total Runtime 01:16:40

Info for Bennett: Piano Sextet, Chamber Trio & String Quartet

Famed for his sequence of Piano Concertos, Sterndale Bennett also wrote a small but distinguished body of chamber music. The String Quartet in G major is one of his earliest surviving works, revealing a precocious talent still strongly influenced by Haydn. Mendelssohn is the model for the Sextet, though Bennett’s highly virtuosic piano writing, with its concertante interplay, reinforces the work’s lyrical qualities and required dexterity as well as its advanced harmonies and hymnal beauty. The concise Chamber Trio radiates sheer charm while displaying an even greater grasp of structure and is the first English example in the trio form where both string instruments are given parts independent of the piano.

Key Features: The Villiers Quartet are British chamber music specialists; their 2017 recording of the Delius and Elgar Quartets (8573586) was very well reviewed. MusicWeb International wrote: “This is a desirable chamber release with convincing and stylish playing from the Villiers Quartet who offer endearing expression and impeccable intonation throughout.”

The quartet’s recording of Fricker Quartets (8571374) is ‘Recommended’ by The Strad: “This is demanding music, and the Villiers Quartet has done well for reviving it with such immersive mastery that the occasionally grey, cardboard quality of the melodic material is coloured and corrugated into quirky, restlessly compelling structures.”

None of the works in this album are available right now, and this is a great opportunity for a revival of the composer’s works.

James Dickenson, violin
Nick Stringfellow, cello
Leon Bosch, double bass
Jeremy Young, piano
Villiers Quartet

Villiers Quartet
Named after Villiers Street in London's colourful musical epicentre, the Villiers Quartet encompasses the grand and iconic spirit of the extraordinary music tradition in London.

Hailed as one of the most charismatic and "adventurous" quartets of the European chamber music scene ​(The Strad)​, the Villiers Quartet has developed an international reputation for its performances of British music. Championing music which reflects Britain's rich musical heritage, the Villiers Quartet (VQ) has performed works by Elgar, Britten, Delius, William Sterndale Bennett, Robert Saxton, Kuljit Bhamra, MBE, and Frank Bridge. The VQ has been praised for its "exquisite ensemble playing" ​(Seen & Heard International)​, and its performances have been hailed as "masterful." ​(Classical Source)​.

The Villiers Quartet has been featured in numerous festivals including the North York Moors Chamber Music Festival, the Brit Jazz Fest, the Hungerford Arts Festival, and the British Music Society.

The VQ's internationally acclaimed ​VQ New Works Competition ​encourages audiences to interact with contemporary music performance online, and supports the creation of new works for string quartet. The Competition ran in 2012, 2014 and 2016. The winning compositions will be released digitally on the VQ’s own label imprint in 2017. The Villiers Quartet is winner of the 2015 Radcliffe Chamber Music Competition, and holds the position of Quartet-in-Residence at Oxford University's Faculty of Music, and feature in the University Faculty of Music Concert Season.

In addition to their work at Oxford University, the VQ has presented masterclasses at Dartmouth College, the University of Nottingham, Syracuse University, Goshen College, and Indiana University South Bend. The VQ is also ​Quartet-in-Residence at Nottingham High School, where they direct an extensive chamber music programme for young students. The Villiers Quartet are managed internationally through Mary Kaptein Artists.

The Villiers Quartet’s debut CD for Naxos, ​The Complete Quartets of Robert Still​, was praised for its "sublimely articulate and concentrated readings," (​Gramophone​) and received 5-stars in ​Classical Music Magazine​. The VQ

was the featured quartet on the soundtrack to the BBC One film, ​Lady Chatterley's Lover​, and they have been featured on BBC Radio both in live performance and on the classical music program ​In Tune​. Upcoming highlights include their Netherlands debut at the Festival Kamermuziek aan de Berkel, and the release of their CD of the Delius and Elgar quartets in collaboration with Oxford Professor Daniel Grimley, and the first complete recording of the quartets by English composer Peter Racine Fricker.

Booklet for Bennett: Piano Sextet, Chamber Trio & String Quartet