John Gilhooly OBE – Wigmore Hall Director writes .. ‘Renewing the chamber music repertoire is central to the co-commissioning partnership between Wigmore Hall, The Radcliffe Trust and NMC Recordings. We are delighted to support Simon Holts 3rd Quartet with the JACK Quartet, Donnacha Dennehys The weather of it with the Doric String Quartet and Anthony Gilberts Haven of Mysteries with the Carducci String Quartet and Guy Johnston. We are very pleased to support some of the finest musicians of their generation, achieving the highest standards of their interpretations in modern compositions. I have no doubt that this recording will be praised for its vitality, freshness and the expressive power of new music. Wigmore Halls wholehearted commitment to continue building the chamber music repertoire is central to this project, and we look forward to further recordings yet to be released in this series.’

Simon Holt, Donnacha Dennehy and Anthony Gilbert, the composers featured on this inaugural Bracing Change album of new string commissions, are as contrasting in their responses to it as they are individual in character across their musical output. Together, their new works two quartets and a quintet are a reminder that the medium has thrived for some 250 years not merely by adapting to change, but by inspiring all sorts of new music at its pioneering edge.

JACK String Quartet
Carducci String Quartet
Guy Johnston cello
Doric Quartet

Bracing Change 2, the second instalment in this partnership with Wigmore Hall, will be released on 7 April 2023. Check it out here

AUDIO

REVIEWS

‘Totally compelling … intriguing, vivid new music The Guardian

‘Exceptional’ BBC Radio 3 ‘Record Review’

Edgy and unpredictable Gramophone

‘Throughout this compelling disc, recorded sound is crisp and clean, and charged with a thrilling immediacy.’ The Strad

Bracing Change rekindles the string quartet (and quintet) as a site of risk and innovation. BBC Music Magazine

FUNDERS

This Bracing Change series is a co-commissioning partnership between The Radcliffe Trust, Wigmore Hall and NMC Recordings.

NMC is grateful to the following for their generous support of this recording:

Hargreaves and Ball Trust

The Radcliffe Trust

The Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust, whose founder was closely associated with the Radcliffe Trust during her lifetime.

RECORDING CREDITS

3rd Quartet was recorded 19 January 2015, The weather of it was recorded 15 July 2016 and Haven of Mysteries was recorded 14 June 2015. All premiere performances were recorded live at Wigmore Hall, London.

Recording Engineer & Producer: STEVE PORTNOI

(P) 2017 NMC Recordings Ltd
2017 NMC Recordings Ltd

Catalogue number: NMC D216
Release Date: 19 May 2017