Herbert Howells's string quartets

Started by britishcomposer, Sunday 26 June 2011, 15:08

Previous topic - Next topic

britishcomposer


I have been listening to the hyperion recording of the 3rd string quartet 'In Gloucestershire' for nearly 10 years and I cannot imagine a better one. There are a few passages where intonation fails slightly but the 'Divertimenti' quartet captures the transcendental flights of the composer without ever loosing the grip.

But there IS at least another recording: the Britten Quartet did it for EMI coupled with the Delius string quartet. Additionally you get Howells's earlier Phantasy Quartet op.25.
Does any of you know this 'alternative' recording?

I would like to know which version they recorded. Is it the same as with the Divertimenti? Which recording do you prefer?

According to Christopher Palmer (hyperion booklet) the Divertimenti recording was the first recording of the so called 'definitive version' - the last one. This dates from 1984.
I don't know exactly when the recording with the Britten Quartet was made but it must have been in the 1990s.

Curiously enough, the 'Lady Audrey's Suite' op.19 has never been recorded, has it?