Haydn, Schubert, Widmann

Ragazze String Quartet

Channel Classics CCS 34613

This is a strange debut CD, in that it appears to be mainly intended as a cross-over portal to this brilliant and enterprising group's YouTube videos !

In its own right, it offers extremely sophisticated accounts of Haydn op 76/2, with some special sounds, and a distinguished Schubert Death and the Maiden quartet. Plus a Jorg Widmann likely to be new to most of us - his sinister Hunt Quartet, which has significant voice parts.

But the back cover invites us to watch the latter's "spectacular music video" with cinematography by Joris Buistra which is spectacular indeed. Once arrived there, you will be likely to explore their several others, some of which are highly sophisticated, innovative in the filming and quite addictive...(I spent most of a happy hour with them, including Bartok and the Widmann no 3).

So, do not be fooled by the illustrations on the CD which present the ragazze as playful, frolicksome young girls !

Mark the Ragazze String Quartet and begin to collect what they have to offer.

Peter Grahame Woolf