The string quartet is at the very heart of 20th-century British music, encompassing some of the quintessential works of the chamber music repertory. This compendium features fine examples of the genre, revealing the precocious talents of Benjamin Britten and John Ireland, the quicksilver craftsmanship of Frank Bridge and Alan Rawsthorne, the captured sunshine’ of Edward Elgar’s writing and the evocative pastoral renderings of Arthur Bliss and Arnold Bax. Although the musical styles of each of the composers featured in this collection are unique, their contributions are unified by an innate understanding and mastery of the string quartet form.

The multi-award-winning and twice GRAMMY^® Award-nominated Maggini Quartet’s consummate and much lauded interpretations of these works are presented here together for the first time.

‘The Maggini Quartet’s association with the Naxos label and all things British has generated best-selling discs and some of the country’s most passionate music-making.’ – The Times