Reflets du temps Quatuor Cobalt

• Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen (1745 - 1818): String Quartet No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 3:
• 1 Sirmen: String Quartet No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 3: I. Andantino 06:49
• 2 Sirmen: String Quartet No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 3: II. Allegro 05:08
• Fanny Mendelssohn (1805 - 1847): String Quartet in E-Flat Major, H. 277:
• 3 Mendelssohn: String Quartet in E-Flat Major, H. 277: I. Adagio ma non troppo 03:14
• 4 Mendelssohn: String Quartet in E-Flat Major, H. 277: II. Allegretto 03:44
• 5 Mendelssohn: String Quartet in E-Flat Major, H. 277: III. Romanze 06:13
• 6 Mendelssohn: String Quartet in E-Flat Major, H. 277: IV. Allegro molto vivace 05:37
• Alicia Terzian (b. 1934): Tres piezas for String Quartet, Op. 5:
• 7 Terzian: Tres piezas for String Quartet, Op. 5: I. Canción del atardecer 03:49
• 8 Terzian: Tres piezas for String Quartet, Op. 5: II. Pastoral con variaciones 04:05
• 9 Terzian: Tres piezas for String Quartet, Op. 5: III. Danza rústica 02:26
• Total Runtime 41:05

Info for Reflets du temps

We sought to give this collection of pieces a unique character through the use of instruments, bows, and strings, each corresponding respectively to the practices of the Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary periods. Each work is imbued with a distinct sound, texture, and color. Through these subtle nuances, we offer a musical journey through time centered around the music of three women who, each in their own way, left a mark on their era: Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen, Fanny Hensel Mendelssohn, and Alicia Terzian.

After 7 years on the Quebec music scene, Quatuor Cobalt announces the release of its debut album, Reflets du temps. Comprising Guillaume Villeneuve and Diana Bayard (violins), Clément Bufferne (viola) and François Leclerc (cello), the Université de Montréal-trained quartet was taught by Annick Roussin, Yegor Dyachkov, Guillaume Sutre, Laura Andriani and the Quatuor Debussy. In Quebec, the Cobalt Quartet has performed at festivals such as the Festival International de Lanaudière, the Festival International du Domaine Forget and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, as well as in major venues such as the Palais Montcalm in Quebec City and Place des Arts in Montreal. Characterized by its eclecticism, the quartet explores both early music on period instruments and the contemporary repertoire, and is committed to the dissemination of today’s repertoire.

The album launch was a good opportunity for our contributor Alexandre Villemaire to chat with Guillaume Villeneuve about this release, as well as the ensemble’s many other projects, including their program of Schubert’s complete string quartets and their forthcoming indoor concert on December 18 at Jeunesses Musicales du Canada’s Salle Joseph-Rouleau.

Quatuor Cobalt:
Guillaume Villeneuve, violin
Diane Bayard, violin
Clément Bufferne, viola
François Leclerc, cello

The Cobalt Quartet
stands out for its eclectic, modern musical approach, exploring with equal enthusiasm early music on period instruments and contemporary creations. As committed artists, the members of the quartet are dedicated to making music ever more accessible to a wide audience, defying stylistic and social barriers.

In Quebec, the Quatuor Cobalt has played at festivals such as the Festival International de Lanaudière, the Festival International du Domaine Forget and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, as well as major venues such as the Palais Montcalm in Quebec City and Place des Arts in Montreal. The ensemble has collaborated extensively with leading Quebec artists such as Vincent Lauzer, Élisabeth Pion and Patrick Watson, revisiting their repertoire in arrangements that combine textures and improvisations.

Committed to disseminating today's repertoire, the ensemble gives pride of place to contemporary music with a number of collaborations and premieres by Quebec composers. The quartet commissioned and premiered Jardins de givre by François-Hugues Leclair at the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur in April 2022.

The Cobalt Quartet was founded at the Université de Montréal in 2017. It was taught by Laura Andriani (Quatuor Alcan), Guillaume Sutre (Quatuor Ysaye), the Quatuor Debussy, Annick Roussin and Yegor Dyachkov.

The ensemble is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, the Conseil des arts de Montréal and the Fondation Père-Lindsay.

Guillaume Villeneuve's violin Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume 1866 and bow Arthur Copley (W.E Hill & Sons) 1955, Diane Bayard's violin Antonio Gragnani 1751 and bow Victor Fétique c. 1925, as well as François Leclerc's cello Pietro Antonio Cateni c. 1790-1810 and bow Gustav Prager are generously loaned by Canimex.

This album contains no booklet.