Tinalley String Quartet Records Impressionist Masters

The Tinalley String Quartet has embarked on an exciting new chapter of recordings with the release today of  an album containing the music of the two greatest protagonists in the French Impressionist movement: Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. The album is being released to coincide with global commemorations of the 100th anniversary of Debussy’s death on 25  March 1918. This is the ensemble’s first recording release by Decca Classics Australia.

These string quartets, written ten years apart, were compared from the outset. Ravel greatly admired Debussy’s quartet and sought to produce a work equal to that of his elder colleague. Once completed, Debussy held his younger contemporary’s creation in great esteem, reportedly urging him not to change a single note, although it was unfavourably reviewed by some critics, notably the jury of the Prix de Rome competition to which it was submitted. Debussy’s quartet also challenged the ears of some critics as the sounds were so new, and even some violinists were apprehensive to approach it for its difficulty. Overall, the premieres and the many subsequent performances of the works during the composers’ lifetimes were enthusiastically embraced and the works were heralded as masterpieces.

The Tinalley String Quartet is one of Australia’s most awarded and well-respected chamber ensembles. Winners of the 9th Banff International String Quartet Competition, they have travelled the world, appearing in such prestigious venues as the Vienna Musikverein, Berlin Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and the Frankfurt AlteOper.

In Australia, the group presents an annual recital series at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Recital Centre and performs regularly at the nation’s premier festivals including the Adelaide Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, the Huntington Festival, and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. The quartet is currently ‘Quartet in Residence’ at the Coriole Music Festival.

The tracks: CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862–1918) String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10/ MAURICE RAVEL (1875–1937) String Quartet in F major

TINALLEY STRING QUARTET: Adam Chalabi violin I/ Lerida Delbridge violin II/ Justin Williams viola/ Michelle Wood cello