Rigel • Dialogued Quartets

Description

ATMA Classique presents the world premiere recording of the six forgotten but nonetheless remarkable Opus 10 quartets by the German-born composer Henri-Joseph Rigel (1741–1799), whose career flourished in Paris after his arrival there in 1767. Rigel published works for Harpesichord and pianoforte, keyboard concertos, symphonies, and two sets of violon, alto, violoncelles: Opus 4 (c. 1770) and Opus 10 (c. 1773). He subsequently achieved considerable success in French-language opera and oratorio. His large-scale works were frequently performed at the Concert Spirituel and in the capital’s major theaters, and he became one of the city’s most respected musicians. The Franz Joseph Quartet, playing on period instruments, brings these sparkling and imaginative works back to life, each in three contrasting movements. Not only are these quartets skillfully written, but their rhythmic vitality, their often remarkably fresh melodic lines, their harmonic and dramatic interest, all generously distributed among the four musicians, make them works that stand out honorably among the plethora of quartets published in France during the last thirty years of the 18th century. Rigel’s truly international style, exemplified by these quartets, was hailed at the time as one of the great prides of French music.