The Piano Quartet by much-admired Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks is one of his longest and most imposing chamber works. Unfolding with inexorable expressive force, it utilises dance-like motifs and folk-inflected themes throughout. The pieces by Lithuanian composer Arvydas Malcys form a cohesive sequence akin to a three-movement piano quartet in which specific sound effects, emotional power and colourful textures are in perfect alignment.

This new release marks the Naxos debut of the Ippolitov-Ivanov Piano Quartet, one of the best young ensembles in Russia. Founded in 2001, the Quartet has participated in multiple international masterclasses and festivals in Russia, Lithuania and Germany, and conducted music workshops in Austria and Italy. The quartet regularly participates in the Moscow State Philharmonic Society’s ‘Subscription’ series, and has instigated numerous chamber music concert series in Moscow. Alongside core piano quartet repertoire, the ensemble also works with other musicians.