It is probably fair to say that the Nightingale String Quartet took the musical world a little by surprise when they released their first volume of the string quartets of Rued Langgaard last year. Amongst the overwhelmingly positive critical and public reception, the San Francisco Chronicle proclaimed: 'Simply breathtaking. I can't wait for the next release.' Well, the wait is over!
Featuring works all centring around the year 1918 – Rosengaardsspil (Rose Garden Play), the String Quartet (A-flat major), and the String Quartet No. 4 'Sommerdage' (Summer Days) – these incredible new performances leave little doubt of both the Nightingale Quartet's position as one of the finest young quartets around and of Langgaard's work will continuing to shift from its current paradoxic situation of 'famously neglected' to one where all recognise the value of this unique music.
The album is released on Dacapo records today (December 2) and is available here on CD and digital formats (including the 24-bit studio master). Also, the quartet plays a special concert at Christians Kirke, Copenhagen at 8pm tonight to celebrate the album release.
