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Sir Michael Tippett's complete String Quartets are given fresh perspectives by the vibrant and adventurous Heath Quartet. The first ensemble in 10 years to receive the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Young Artist Award, the Heaths bring irresistible energy to these works.
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John Gilhooly, Director of Wigmore Hall, comments on this landmark project: ‘It has been 25 years since the last definitive recording of all of Tippett’s string quartets. Here we have a young British quartet bringing us a fresh interpretation; a modern voice for Tippett. I think that’s something that would have pleased him very much indeed.’
Oliver Heath, first violinist of the quartet, looks forward to the release. He explains ‘from the youthful energy of the first quartet to the very reflective nature of the last, you really gain a sense of Tippett’s evolution as a composer. As with many great composers – Mozart, Beethoven and Bartók among them – string quartets seem to form a continuous outlet throughout their career, and can give a fascinating autobiographical insight. With Tippett’s quartets, I feel that his most intimate thoughts and emotions are exposed.’
‘Tippett assimilated ideas and styles from all over the world and all different kinds of music. He looked outwards, and his music seems to look outwards as well’, comments Christopher Murray, cellist of the Heath Quartet.
Speaking on behalf of the quartet, Oliver adds: ‘We really feel that the energy of our concert performances is captured in this recording for Wigmore Hall Live. The works are very well suited to live recording; in a concert you really have to perform, and have to take risks, and we certainly feel that this comes across on the CD. Right from the very beginning of the process, getting to know these five works was an exciting journey of discovery for us, and through the recording we hope to take the works to new audiences and convince people to make that investment in Tippett as a composer – he’s a really exciting, worthy voice to listen to.’
Released Friday 11 December 2015
Watch a short video about this release!
