Carry on Endellion
The Endellion String Quartet’s 30th Anniversary celebrations continue in print featured in Classical Music Magazine, “Carry on Endellion” and on film, as part of Phil Grabsky’s documentary for Seventh Art Productions and Sky Arts, In Search of Beethoven. The world premiere is on Monday 30th March at the Barbican Hall, London with UK theatrical release on Sky Arts 2 and Sky Arts HD from 24 May 2009 at 7pm.
Amongst other artists, the film includes performances by the quartet; David Waterman also discusses the ensembles exploration of Beethoven’s quartet music over their thirty year history and the recent release of their Beethoven box set on Warner Classics. The box set has received outstanding reviews, a selection of which is below:
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE December 2008
“The Op. 18 set offers some of the most convincing performances in the cycle, every movement delivered with energy, musical insight and a good deal of wry humour. Interestingly the players offer a more lyrical view of the first movement of the C minor Quartet than many rivals and in so doing reveal an underlying degree of melancholy in the writing that is not always apparent in other versions.”
CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE January 2009
“The Endellions relish all the exuberance of the Op. 18 set ... the near-orchestral sonority of the refrain in Op. 27 is splendid, and the Cavatina of Op. 130 will break your heart.”
GRAMOPHONE January 2009
“The Endellions have always been an intense, sensitive group, and here their merits after 30 years are highlighted by the comparison in two pieces with the Artemis Quartet.
Op. 59 No. 2 draws from the Endellions the most refined, dedicated playing in the visionary slow movement, whereas the Artemis are relatively earthbound, polished as they are. At every point the Endellions demonstrate their extra maturity. They consistently play with inner depth and dedication, and employ the widest dynamic range, with whispered pianissimos as intense as the biting fortissimos.
With perfect intonation and matching, this is a most valuable new issue, particularly with such a wonderful collection of bonus items. The recordings are also a model of balance and refinement.”
STRAD MAGAZINE February 2009
“This is the most comprehensive package of Beethoven string music ever recorded by a single ensemble. As the performances of the central canon of 17 quartets are the best overall from the past decade or so, and Jonathan Del Mar’s new Bärenreiter editions have been used, the set carries my highest recommendation.”
