Quatuor Ébène – Mendelssohn Felix and Fanny (2013) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Quatuor Ébène - Mendelssohn Felix and Fanny (2013) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz] Download

Quatuor Ébène – Mendelssohn Felix and Fanny (2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:16:50 minutes | 784 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Erato – Warner Classics

The Quatuor Ebène turns to Mendelssohn: two quartets by Felix and one by his elder sister Fanny, who composed over 400 works and who, like her brother, died in 1847. “Felix’s quartets speak with intimacy, but are not devoid of violent, stormy emotion,” says Raphaël Merlin of the Quatuor Ebène. He praises Fanny for composing “with surprising freedom”, saying “we fell in love with her string quartet”.
(more…)

Read more

Quatuor Ébène – ‘Round Midnight (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Quatuor Ébène - 'Round Midnight (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Quatuor Ébène – ‘Round Midnight (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:09:43 minutes | 1,38 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Warner Classics

The members of Quatuor Ébène went round the world with the complete Beethoven quartets, now they go ‘Round Midnight. This album offers a creatively conceived programme, bringing together major figures from different streams of 20th music: Arnold Schönberg, Henri Dutilleux and four masters of jazz and popular idioms – Thelonius Monk, Cole Porter, Henry Mancini and Victor Young.
(more…)

Read more

Quatuor Ébène, Antoine Tamestit – Mozart: String Quintets K. 515 & 516 (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Quatuor Ébène, Antoine Tamestit - Mozart: String Quintets K. 515 & 516 (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Quatuor Ébène, Antoine Tamestit – Mozart: String Quintets K. 515 & 516 (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:11:57 minutes | 1,42 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Warner Classics

The 2004 edition of the ARD International Competition in Munich saw the paths of violist Antoine Tamestit and members of the Ebène Quartet cross. A meeting of champions on a day to remember, with these artists taking first place in their respective categories. Their collaborations have multiplied over the years, finally converging on a first joint recording entitled Round Midnight, which ended with a sumptuous rendition of Schoeberg’s Transfigured Night.

But in this case the new ensemble is committed to the genius of Mozart, through his Quintet No. 3 K.515 and No. 4 K.516. In the first, the group explores the highly contrasting moods in Mozart’s writing, alternating between the abundant energy of the first and fourth movements, and the melancholic lethargy of the second and third. A roller coaster of emotions, guided by clever playing and a lovely, enveloping tonality. On the other hand, Quartet K.516 has darker colours, the key of G minor in Mozart’s work often being associated with distress and sorrow. It took on a particular meaning in 1787, at a time when the composer was worried about his father’s health. The Ebène quartet and Tamestit draw a striking chiaroscuro from the score, magnified by intelligent choices with regards to the tempi, leaving room for perfect spaces that allow the piece to breathe. – Pierre Lamy
(more…)

Read more

Quatuor Ébène – Beethoven Around the World: Nairobi, String Quartets Nos 4, 5 & 16 (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Quatuor Ébène - Beethoven Around the World: Nairobi, String Quartets Nos 4, 5 & 16 (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Quatuor Ébène – Beethoven Around the World: Nairobi, String Quartets Nos 4, 5 & 16 (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:20:12 minutes | 1,63 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Warner Classics

The New York Times once described Quatuor Ébène as “a string quartet that can easily transform itself into a jazz band”. What began as a diversionary exercise for four young music students is today the symbol of the fresh approach to the tradition and modernity of the quartet. And that was exactly what earned them 1st Prize in the 2004 edition of the renowned ARD International Music Competition. It would mark the beginning of an international career that would see the French quartet go on to win many prizes, including several ECHO KLASSIK awards.
(more…)

Read more

Quatuor Ébène – Beethoven Around the World: Vienna, Op. 59 Nos 1 & 2 (2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Quatuor Ébène - Beethoven Around the World: Vienna, Op. 59 Nos 1 & 2 (2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Quatuor Ébène – Beethoven Around the World: Vienna, Op. 59 Nos 1 & 2 (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:17:59 minutes | 1,58 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Warner Classics

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birthday with the entire world in 2020, the Carnegie Hall chose the French ensemble the Ébène Quartet to perform Beethoven’s Quatuors in their entirety. Honoured by this prestigious invitation, the four musicians decided to prolong this exceptional moment by playing this globally recognised music around the world, on all five continents in seven concerts between April 2019 and January 2020.
(more…)

Read more

Quatuor Ébène – Beethoven Around the World: The Complete String Quartets (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Quatuor Ébène - Beethoven Around the World: The Complete String Quartets (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Quatuor Ébène – Beethoven Around the World: The Complete String Quartets (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 08:50:38 minutes | 10,73 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Warner Classics

Quatuor Ébène are celebrating Beethoven’s 250th Birthday with performances of his string quartets in 18 countries spanning all six continents, and assembling the complete cycle for ERATO from seven stops on this world tour. 2020 is also the 20th anniversary of Quatuor Ébène.
(more…)

Read more

Quatuor Ébène – Brazil (2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz]

Quatuor Ébène - Brazil (2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz] Download

Quatuor Ébène – Brazil (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:06:43 minutes | 799 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Erato – Warner Classics

The New York Times has described the Ebènes as “a string quartet that can easily morph into a jazz band”, and it’s true that the innovative young ensemble is as riveting in Ravel (2009 Gramophone Recording of the Year) as in sophisticated arrangements of pop and film music.
(more…)

Read more

Quatuor Ébène – Beethoven Around the World: Melbourne, String Quartets Nos 2, 10 & 11 (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Quatuor Ébène - Beethoven Around the World: Melbourne, String Quartets Nos 2, 10 & 11 (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Quatuor Ébène – Beethoven Around the World: Melbourne, String Quartets Nos 2, 10 & 11 (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:17:51 minutes | 1,54 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Warner Classics

Quatuor Ébène are celebrating Beethoven’s 250th Birthday with performances of his string quartets in 18 countries spanning all six continents, and assembling the complete cycle for ERATO from seven stops on this world tour. 2020 is also the 20th anniversary of Quatuor Ébène.
(more…)

Read more

Quatuor Ébène – Beethoven Around the World: The Complete String Quartets (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Quatuor Ébène - Beethoven Around the World: The Complete String Quartets (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Quatuor Ébène – Beethoven Around the World: The Complete String Quartets (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 08:50:38 minutes | 10,73 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Warner Classics

Quatuor Ébène are celebrating Beethoven’s 250th Birthday with performances of his string quartets in 18 countries spanning all six continents, and assembling the complete cycle for ERATO from seven stops on this world tour. 2020 is also the 20th anniversary of Quatuor Ébène.
(more…)

Read more

Quatuor Ébène, Michel Portal – Eternal Stories (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz]

Quatuor Ébène, Michel Portal - Eternal Stories (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz] Download

Quatuor Ébène, Michel Portal – Eternal Stories (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:08:49 minutes | 791 MB | Genre: Classical, Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Erato – Warner Classics

The New York Times has described the French ensemble as “a string quartet that can easily morph into a jazz band” and its recordings of Haydn, Bartók, Brahms and Schubert have been praised all over the world. Portal and the Ébène first played together in Paris in 2013, where Piazzolla’s compositions were also on the programme, prompting Le Monde to speak of “a significant lesson, a superb encounter, a real conversation.”

Eternal Stories might just turn out to be one of the best albums that Portal has ever recorded. He could well have been thinking of his beloved Charlie Parker, who in 1949 realised his dream of making a recording with a string section. Eternal Stories is not some kind of attempt at a remake, but comprises completely new pieces and two new arrangements of classic Portal numbers, a late work by Piazzolla and astonishing contributions from members of Quatuor Ébène itself.
(more…)

Read more

Quatuor Ébène, Gautier Capuçon, Matthias Goerne, Laurène Durantel – Schubert: Quintet and Lieder (2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

Quatuor Ébène, Gautier Capuçon, Matthias Goerne, Laurène Durantel – Schubert: Quintet and Lieder (2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:12:04 minutes | 1,23 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Warner Classics

In a characteristically imaginative move, the Quatuor Ebène complements Schubert’s sublime Quintet for two violins, viola and two cellos (Gautier Capuçon joins the ensemble) with a group of his songs – sensitively arranged by the quartet’s cellist, Raphaël Merlin, and sung by German baritone Matthias Goerne, one of the world’s great interpreters of lieder.

In 2014 Erato released Schubert’s glorious ‘Trout’ Quintet, recorded live at Paris’s Salle Pleyel by members of Quatuor Ebène with nonagerian pianist Menahem Pressler. The French quartet – with a new viola-player, 24-year-old Adrien Boisseau and a distinguished guest cellist, Gautier Capuçon – now turns to another Schubert quintet, his final chamber work and one of his sublime masterpieces: the Quintet for two violins, viola and two cellos in C major D956, often known simply as the Schubert Quintet. Its slow movement in particular, in which time seems to stands still, is a favourite with music-lovers.

(more…)

Read more

Philippe Jaroussky, Jérôme Ducros, Quatuor Ebène – Green: Mélodies françaises sur des poèmes de Verlaine (2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Philippe Jaroussky, Jérôme Ducros, Quatuor Ebène – Green: Mélodies françaises sur des poèmes de Verlaine (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:51:51 minutes | 1,86 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Erato – Warner Classics

In his second album of French song from the 19th and 20th centuries – following the ground-breaking Opium, released in 2009 – countertenor Philippe Jaroussky explores settings of poems by Paul Verlaine (1844-96). One of France’s most revered fin-de-siècle poets and a pioneer of the decadent and symbolist movements, Verlaine famously declared his philosophy in the first line of Art poétique in 1874: ‘De la musique avant toute chose’ – ‘music before all else.’ In his poetry, the sound and the shape of each line carries meaning and expression, adding resonance to the words, which often evoke a twilit world of ambiguous emotions.

(more…)

Read more

Eric Le Sage, Quatuor Ébène – Gabriel Fauré – 3: Quintettes avec piano, Op. 89 & 115 (2012) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

Eric Le Sage, Quatuor Ébène – Gabriel Fauré – 3: Quintettes avec piano, Op. 89 & 115 (2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:06:11 minutes | 1,08 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Alpha Classics

In a genre set by Boccherini and represented in the nineteenth century by the masterpieces of Schumann, Brahms and Franck, Gabriel Fauré composed two scores that were very different from his early romances and the evanescent ‘lullaby ofdeath’ that is the Requiem. The Piano Quintet op. 89 remains little known, for reasons related to its composition as much as to its history. Regarded by Koechlin a some of Fauré’s finest work, it serves as a transition to the composer’s final stylistic period. Opus 115, surprisingly less melancholy than its predecessor, is one ofthe composer’s last productions. In the evening of his life Faure demonstrated his supreme mastery and prodigious creative power, giving French chamber music, which he served so well, one of its finest monuments.

(more…)

Read more