Ravel's tantalising stylistic confluence of ancient and modern comes bubbling to the surface in the Tesla Quartet's captivating account of his only String Quartet. An outstanding recording debut.

They are indeed a fine ensemble, whose playing is admirable in its tautness of focus and refinement of detail. For and emotion are nicely balanced in the Ravel Quartet…The Tesla darken their tone for Haydn’s Op. 54 No. 2, which, similarly, is beautifully controlled. Leader-driven, the work itself is almost a concerto in miniature. Snyder negotiates its difficulties with unshowy finesse.

They give Ravel’s String Quartet with transparency and warmth, counterbalancing it with satisfying readings of one of Haydn’s “Tost” quartets, Op 54, No 2, in C — the same textural finesse — and Stravinsky’s pithy Concertino (1920).

There's a moving surprise in Haydn's finale, when the Presto abruptly melts away and we return to a thoughtful Adagio. Wonderful music, 20 minutes of sheer pleasure. The Teslas also give us Stravinsky's pungent 1922 Concertino, its metrical challenges surmounted with aplomb. Warmly recorded and well-annotated to boot.