Description
“an essential disc for Puccini-fanciers … these chips off the workbench fascinatingly illuminate what we know of the opera composer … recorded sound is very vivid and immediate for the excellent Raphael Quartet.” … “Among the six quartet pieces I crisantemi is justly well known a charming piece that provided material for Manon Lescaut. The second of the three Minuets similarly gave Puccini the idea for the brilliant opening of that opera … Scherzo in A minor of the same year is delightful, presumably intended as another movement for the quartet” (Gramophone)
| Puccini: Crisantemi; 3 Minuets; Scherzo; Quartet Movement [24:02] |
| 1. Crisantemi (Andante mesto) 6:00 |
| 2. Minuetto I (Moderato) 3:39 |
| 3. Minuetto II (Allegretto) 2:38 |
| 4. Minuetto III (Assai mosso) 2:50 |
| 5. Scherzo in A minor (Allegro vivo) 0:58 |
| 6. Allegro moderato (Quartet in D major) 7:55 |
| Cherubini: String Quartet No.1 in Eb major** [33:06] |
| 7. I. Adagio – Allegro agitato 12:24 |
| 8. II. Larghetto sans lenteur 9:08 |
| 9. III. Scherzo. Allegretto moderato 6:53 |
| 10. IV. Finale. Allegro assai 4:40 |
| Verdi: String Quartet in E minor** [21:24] |
| 11. I. Allegro 7:09 |
| 12. II. Andantino 7:01 |
| 13. III. Prestissimo 3:15 |
| 14. IV. Scherzo Fuga. Allegro assai mosso 3:59 |
