Album: 'Round Midnight by Quatuor Ébène (2021)
Genre: Classical
Record Label: Warner Classics
Format: Album

Description: The fine French ensemble Quatuor Ébène undertake a journey after dark that ends with Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg’s transformation of Richard Dehmel’s poem “Verklärte Nacht” into one of the most glorious late-Romantic string sextets. Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht is a story of love, understanding and hope, and it’s gorgeously played by the Ébènes and two starry guests (cellist Nicolas Altstaedt and violist Antoine Tamestit), the sinuous lines sensitively woven. French composer Henri Dutilleux’s Ainsi la Nuit, a string quartet of which he was most proud and a modern classic, is superbly done. In between, Night Bridge—composed by the Ébène’s cellist, Raphaël Merlin—weaves jazz and pop songs into a heady sequence.

Artist Background: The Ébène Quartet (French: Quatuor Ébène) is a French string quartet based in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. uatuor Ébène was founded in 1999 at the Boulogne-Billancourt Conservatory in France. The group first came to international attention in 2004 when it won first prize in the string quartet category at the ARD International Music Competition, also taking the Audience Prize, two prizes for interpretation, and the Karl Klinger Foundation Prize. Part of the French music scene. Emerged in the 1990s era. Associated with Classical movement.

Music Scene: Part of the French music scene. Emerged in the 1990s era. Associated with Classical movement.

Tags: Classical, 2020s, Album, Warner Classics

The fine French ensemble Quatuor Ébène undertake a journey after dark that ends with Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg’s transformation of Richard Dehmel’s poem “Verklärte Nacht” into one of the most glorious late-Romantic string sextets. Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht is a story of love, understanding and hope, and it’s gorgeously played by the Ébènes and two starry guests (cellist Nicolas Altstaedt and violist Antoine Tamestit), the sinuous lines sensitively woven. French composer Henri Dutilleux’s Ainsi la Nuit, a string quartet of which he was most proud and a modern classic, is superbly done. In between, Night Bridge—composed by the Ébène’s cellist, Raphaël Merlin—weaves jazz and pop songs into a heady sequence.

'Round Midnight

Quatuor Ébène

Track List

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