Joseph Phibbs Quartets Piatti Quartet

• Joseph Phibbs (b. 1974): String Quartet, No. 2:
• 1 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 2: I. Presto 03:32
• 2 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 2: II. Molto allegro 02:49
• 3 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 2: III. Interlude (Chitarra) 03:24
• 4 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 2: IV. Lento affetuoso 06:03
• String Quartet, No. 3:
• 5 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 3: I. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio 09:47
• 6 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 3: II. Presto (fugato) 02:40
• 7 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 3: III. Notturno e fantasia 05:52
• 8 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 3: IV. Corren te 02:54
• 9 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 3: V. Andante - Allegro 02:48
• String Quartet, No. 4:
• 10 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 4: I. Film Sequence 02:44
• 11 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 4: II. Notturno 01:42
• 12 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 4: III. Cantilena 02:51
• 13 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 4: IV. Burlesque 02:04
• 14 Phibbs: String Quartet, No. 4: V. Passacaglia 06:40
• Total Runtime 55:50

Info for Joseph Phibbs Quartets

Having studied the cello as a child, I have always felt a special affinity with string music. My introduction at the age of 14 to the music of Britten was through his first string quartet, the opening of which still fills me with awe, and his works - especially those for strings - have remained a lifelong inspiration. I am delighted therefore that this recording of my String Quartets Nos. 2-4 has been released, made possible by the generous support of the Richard Thomas Foundation. I have been fortunate to work closely with the Piatti Quartet over a number of years. It was they who commissioned my String Quartet No.1 (2014), a piece they have performed extensively and recorded (Champs Hill Records 2018). Their enthusiasm encouraged me to continue exploring the genre, and - a decade later – it has been both a privilege and a huge pleasure to have another opportunity to write for them (String Quartet No.4).

Piatti Quartet

Piatti Quartet
The distinguished Piatti Quartet are widely renowned for their ‘acute sensitivity’ and their ‘lyrical warmth.’ Since their prizewinning performances at the 2015 Wigmore Hall String Quartet Competition, they have performed all over the world and made international broadcasts from many countries.

The Piattis are famed for their diverse programming and for passionate interpretations across the spectrum of quartet writing, tailoring their performances with the violinists regularly swapping parts to bring out extra nuances and colours in every work.

Since their inception they have always had projects in the recording studio with critically acclaimed releases through Linn, Somm, Champs Hill, Hyperion, Delphian, and NMC record labels. Their wide ranging discography and repertoire is thanks to their enthusiasm and curiosity in collaborating with a broad range of artists including some of the most recognisable names in classical music such as Nicky Spence, Julius Drake, Michael Collins, Barry Douglas, Janina Fialkowska, Melvyn Tan, Ian Bostridge, Katherine Broderick, Adam Walker, Simon Callaghan and the Belcea Quartet.

Contemporary music has been ever present in their repertoire and leaving a legacy to the quartet genre through commissions is one of the quartet’s central tenets. Major commissions and dedications have stemmed from Mark-Anthony Turnage, Emily Howard, Charlotte Harding, and Joseph Phibbs whilst they have premiered a huge number of new works over the years. The Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Flagey Radio Hall Brussels, Wigmore Hall London, and the Aldeburgh Festival are some of the high profile occasions where new music has been presented and recordings of Turnage’s quartets 1-4 and Gavin Higgins’ chamber music has also been extensively lauded by critics.

Historical research into quartet music that has been undiscovered or deserves to be better known has led to the premiere recording of Ina Boyle’s (Ireland) SQ in E minor, and performances of lesser known quartet gems by Ralph Vaughan Williams, E.J. Moeran, Rachmaninov, Ireland, Haas, Ulmann, and Durosoir.

The quartet’s name is dedicated to Alfredo Piatti, a 19th Century virtuoso cellist who was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music (the alma mater of the founder’s of the quartet) and also a major exponent of chamber music and contemporary music of his time.

Booklet for Joseph Phibbs Quartets