This disc presents three defining works of the string quartet repertoire, innovative and experimental.

“Debussy’s great service to music was to reawaken among all musicians an awareness of harmony and its possibilities. In that, he was just as important as Beethoven, who revealed to us the possibilities of progressive form… Now, what I am always asking myself is this: is it possible to make a synthesis of these three great masters, a living synthesis that will be valid for our time?” – Béla Bartók

The Benyounes Quartet, formed 10 years ago at the Royal Northern College of Music, are: Zara Benyounes (violin), Emily Holland (violin), Sara Roberts (viola), and Kim Vaughan (cello). Recipients of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Julius Isserlis Scholarship, the quartet’s international accolades also include prizes at both the 2014 Orlando International String Quartet Competition and the International Sándor Végh String Quartet Competition in Budapest.

The quartet studied with Professor Gábor Takács–Nagy at the Haute École de Musique in Geneva. They have also worked closely with Peter Cropper, Quatuor Ebène, Eberhard Feltz, Andràs Keller and David Waterman, at centres such as Pro Quartet, Aldeburgh and IMS Prussia Cove. The quartet held the Richard Carne Junior Fellowship at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (2011-13) and is currently resident at Bangor University.

This is their first full recording for Champs Hill Records, having contributed to the critically-acclaimed complete Mendelssohn cycle.