Classical Music

The programming Philippe Graffin is always surprisingly remarkable. He is a master in making a logical connection between unknown or forgotten repertoire and "main" repertoire, and also a master in breaking new ground, on this release by introducing a cadenza of his own. For this release, on the one side, he has chosen the often-recorded Violin Concerto in E Minor by Mendelssohn with the cadenza written by himself, and on the other side, included the not-often recorded and controversial Violin Concerto in D Minor. Philippe Graffin has established an indisputable reputation for his interpretations of the French repertoire. Philippe made his first recording with Yehudi Menuhin conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and his many highly acclaimed recordings since then bear witness to a questing mind and include many world premieres. He has rediscovered original settings of Chausson's Poeme and Ravel's Tzigane and has championed the forgotten violin concertos of Faure and the English composer Coleridge-Taylor.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Inspired by the famous Dutch painter Jacob van Ruysdael, who was renowned for his dramatic landscapes and skies, the Ruysdael Quartet has become known for it's intensive playing and nuanced sound palette. The Ruysdael Quartet was formed in 1996, when all members were studying at the Conservatory in The Hague. In addition to their regular teachers they had lessons with the Amadeus Quartet, the Hagen Quartet and the Quatuor Mosa�ques. Over a two-year period, they studied with the Alban Berg Quartet at the "Hochschule f�r Musik" in Cologne. Within a few years the Ruysdael Quartet established it's name both in the Netherlands and abroad, and has ever since been regularly invited to take part in festivals and masterclasses, resulting in performances not only in Europe but also in Australia and the USA. The Ruysdael Quartet received a full scholarship to attend the 'International Chamber Music Academy Prague-Vienna-Budapest' ('99-'01) where they won the Bela Bart�k Prize (1999), the Alban Berg Prize (2000) and the Tomastik-Infeld Prize (2001) with an invitation to make a recording for the Austrian National Radio. The quartet were winners of the 'Charles Hennen International Chamber Music Competition 2000' in Holland and were awarded the 'Prix de la SACEM' at the International String Quartet Competition 2001 in Bordeaux. In March 2002 they received the Press Prize and the AVRO Prize in the 'Vriendenkrans' competition in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. More recently they were recipients of the prestigious "Kersjes van de Groenekan" Prize, a major musical award in the Netherlands. Next to performing the classical string quartet repertoire the Ruysdael Quartet are frequently involved in contemporary projects. In the 04/05 season they went on tour with the eminent Dutch composer Jacob ter Veldhuis with an innovative programme based around his 3rd quartet. In 2006 the Quartet perfomed both Louis Toebosch's string quartets and they will premiere pieces especially written for them by Eric Verbugt and Rob Zuidam in the forthcoming two seasons. The Ruysdaels are also artistic directors of the annual "Linari Classic" Chamber Music Festival in Tuscany, Italy.

After the successful release of part 1 in December 2008, the Ruysdael Quartet continue their journey with part 2 of their Russian Generations series. The new recording features all second string quartets by Tchaikovsky, Sergei and Gabriel Prokofiev. Tchaikovsky's second quartet is a seldom performed masterpiece with one of the most intensely personal slow movements the composer ever wrote. This is juxtaposed by Sergei Prokofievs op. 92, an exhilarating dance-like piece based on Kabardinian folk tunes. Gabriel Prokofievs 2nd quartet, like it's predecessor, is a thrilling work with a gripping rhythmical drive. But here the instruments are stretched even further to the extremes of their capabilities, creating a fascinating sound world. The Ruysdael Quartet was formed in 1996. They studied with the Amadeus Quartet, Hagen Quartet, Quatuor Mosa�ques and over a two-year period with the Alban Berg Quartet at the "Hochschule f�r Musik", Cologne. Since then they have been regularly invited to take part in festivals and masterclasses, resulting in performances not only in Europe but also in Australia and the USA. The Ruysdael Quartet received a full scholarship to attend the 'International Chamber Music Academy Prague-Vienna-Budapest' ('99-'01) where they won the Bela Bartok Prize (1999), the Alban Berg Prize (2000) and the Tomastik-Infeld Prize (2001) with an invitation to make a recording for the Austrian National Radio. The quartet were winners of the 'Charles Hennen International Chamber Music Competition 2000' in Holland and were awarded the 'Prix de la SACEM' at the International String Quartet Competition 2001 in Bordeaux. In March 2002 they received the Press Prize and the AVRO Prize in the 'Vriendenkrans' competition in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. More recently they were recipients of the prestigious "Kersjes van de Groenekan" Prize, a major musical award in the Netherlands.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music