Carpe Diem String Quartet

“Here [Carpe Diem] once again triumphs…with readings that marry cantabile espressivo and tendency towards Beethovenian cross-referencing to memorable effect…The Carpe Diem players perform this music with the same devoted intensity as if they were rediscovering a lost work by Tchaikovsky…The players here communicate such delight in the Russian’s quirky inspiration that the ear is led effortlessly on…Well worth investigating. ”

“All through the piece, I was captivated by the ensemble playing. I was particularly impressed with the size, breadth and amplitude of the piano contribution. And in response, the string quartet actually has to work at asserting their importance. The result is a certain muscular intensity to their playing which makes this music so thoroughly engaging. They certainly bring the inherent Italianate passion to the fore.”

“(Carpe Diem plays) fresh, path-breaking new works that show how vibrant the quartet form still is. Adventurous and often breathtaking. Eclectic almost to a fault, the group ranged from jazz to Turkish dances to some of the hardest-hitting music of the 20th century.”