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The music of Georges Onslow (1784–1853) was largely ignored in the 19th and early/mid-20th centuries, but his reputation has been growing steadily in recent years with releases of his chamber music and symphonies, including our championing of works such as the Cello Sonatas (8.572830), admired for their ‘sure-handed mastery.’ (ClassicsToday.com) This latest release in our series of Georges Onslow’s delightful, tasteful string quintets brings two substantial world premiere recordings to an increasingly appreciative public.
Georges Onslow’s reputation as the ‘French Beethoven’ was earned in the field of chamber music. His 34 string quintets build on a form perfected by Mozart, and are enhanced through Onslow’s suggested use of a double bass instead of a second cello, as heard in this recording. The String Quintet No. 14 in F major has an attractively genial quality, with distinctive themes contrasting with warmly emotive lyricism; String Quintet No. 24 in D major shows the influence of Beethoven in its theatrically dramatic moods.
I. Allegro moderato
Ensemble Telos unites five distinguished musicians from leading international institutions. Violinist Patrick Yim has performed with members of the Juilliard, Emerson and St. Lawrence string quartets; fellow violinist Natalie Lin Douglas is the founder of Kinetic Ensemble, a group praised for championing new and diverse repertoire for string orchestra; violist Eric Wong is a lifelong quartet devotee and a member of the Blair String Quartet; cellist Jamie Clark is a former member of the Afiara, Cavani and Linden string quartets; and double bassist Matthew Baker is a founding member of the Valencia Baryton Project, a world-class ensemble dedicated to reviving the baryton.
Nos. 20 and 26
Elan Quintet
– Fanfare
Nos. 10 and 22
Elan Quintet
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★
Nos. 28 and 29
Elan Quintet
– The WholeNote
Nos. 23 and 31
Elan Quintet
– The Sunday Times (UK)