Hidden Gems 4

Dominik Hellsberg writes: "Ignace Pleyel's string quartets represent an attractive challenge for experienced chamber musicians. The style is very familiar, yet the music is entirely new and full of surprises. For example, one discovers discrepancies between exposition and recapitulation, unexpected changes from major to minor keys, or the peculiar nature of the scoring, in which every instrument and ensemble member, even the second violin, is tasked with the continuation of the principal voice. Elegance is one of the main stylistic ingredients of Viennese Classicism, and it is also a principal focus of Pleyel's compositional style. The beauty of Pleyel's music is expressed with the utmost delicacy and with noble, deliberate restraint - a sign of true art."