Six Italians and one Frenchman: a consummate realisation of Saint-Saëns multifaceted musical idiom These two chamber works represent Camille Saint-Saëns early perfection and his expressive classical mature style. Brilliance and an unerring sense of form; calm, melancholy resting and energetic gestures; romantic vocal qualities and exquisite compositional art the contrasts characterising Saint-Saëns musical idiom are perfectly realised by the Quartetto di Cremona. Six Italians and one Frenchman: a consummate realisation of Saint-Saëns multifaceted musical idiom. For its latest CD featuring works by Camille Saint-Saëns, the award-winning Quartetto di Cremona draws on sixteen years of giving concerts and making recordings. Leading Italian pianist Andrea Lucchesini joins the ensemble for the Piano Quintet: the third movement of the work is presented here in the rare version adding a double bass (ad lib.).

These two chamber music works of the French composer represent crucial stages in his oeuvre: the Piano Quintet, a work of early perfection, demonstrates Saint-Saëns engagement with German Romanticism, particularly with Robert Schumann and his formal idiom. The String Quartet, marking the transition into his late style, represents the first chamber piece in which Saint-Saëns leaves out his own instrument, the piano. Here, his version of the classical style clear forms and a colourful expressive spectrum becomes especially clear. Brilliance and an unerring sense of form; calm, melancholy resting and energetic gestures; romantic vocal qualities and exquisite compositional art the contrasts characterising Saint-Saëns musical idiom are perfectly realised by the Quartetto di Cremona.