The Sonata for Two Violins is one of Henryk Górecki’s earliest acknowledged works – its contrasts, instrumental rivalries and sophisticated technique a worthy rounding-off of his formative period. The Third String Quartet with its evocative subtitle ‘… songs are sung’ represents a culmination of Górecki’s preoccupations with elaborate and emotive melodic shapes and closely intertwined harmonies, its final minutes recalling the beauty and poignancy of the composer’s Third Symphony (Naxos 8550822). The First and Second String Quartets can be heard on Naxos 8573919, ‘a recording deserving of the very highest recommendation’ (Gramophone).

This release completes our set of Henryk Górecki’s three string quartets with the Tippett Quartet. The first two quartets on 8573919 appeared in November 2018 to acclaim such as ‘Rich, dramatic performances that have the measure of a Polish master’ (The Strad), ‘the Tippetts not only provide renditions of equal stature, missing no nuance of either extreme calm or intransigent violence, but Naxos’ recording is as clear as a bell’ (Gramophone Choice), and ‘I really like these performances by the Tippett Quartet, less emphatic and showbizzy than the Kronos version, allowing the music to find its inner rhythm. Recorded in an English country church, it sounds just right.’ (Norman Lebrecht, Ludwig Van Toronto).

Tippett Quartet:
- John Mills (violin)
- Jeremy Isaac (violin)
- Lydia Lowndes-Northcott (viola)
- Bozidar Vukotic (cello)