The second volume in the Eybler Quartet’s acclaimed exploration of Beethoven’s String Quartets from op.18.

Opus 18 needs little introduction and is often revered as demonstrating Beethoven’s total mastery of the Classical String Quartet. The Eybler Quartet completes its exploration of these iconic quartets in an album that showcases radiantly Beethoven’s fiendishly difficult tempi and his genius for finding contrast within a single pulse as well as highlighting the depths of his humour, wit and irony.

The Eybler Quartet came together in 2004 to explore the works of the first century-and-a-half of the string quartet and plays on instruments appropriate to the period of the music it performs. The Toronto-based ensemble’s harnesses a unique combination of talents and skills: razor-sharp ensemble skills, technical prowess, expertise in period instrument performance and an unquenchable passion for the repertoire. The group’s five other recordings feature world premieres of Eybler’s Opus 1, world premieres of Backofen quintets coupled with Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet featuring Jane Booth, Haydn's six quartets op.33, complete on 2 CDs, the world premiere of Johann Baptist Vanhal’s op.6 on period instruments and volume one of Beethoven’s opus 18 the companion to the present album.

“The Eybler Quartet launches its exploration of Beethoven’s Op.18 quartets with a beguiling freshness, vitality and attention to textual detail...captivating, naturally recorded and balanced performances” - The Strad on Beethoven String Quartets op.18 nos. 1-3

“The playing throughout is defiantly un-glossy but consistently stylish: the helter-skelter finale of Op. 18 no. 3 rustles and glints like Mendelssohn’s fairy music…Beethoven would have been more than happy.” - Gramophone on Beethoven String Quartets Op.18 nos. 1-3

The Eybler Quartet:
- Aisslinn Nosky (violin)
- Julia Wedman (violin)
- Patrick Jordan (viola)
- Margaret Gay (cello)