The 3-CD box of W.A. Mozart’s 6 string quintets (TACET217) has gained a companion set in this box set of Mozart’s 6 “Haydn-Quartets” performed by the Auryn Quartet.

One would question if recordings of string quartets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart without historical performance practice are possible as there is likely no serious classical musician who has entirely escaped its influence in some shape or form. The Auryn Quartet is also subject to these influences. If, despite this, their performances seem conventional, then it’s deceptive as their playing style is no longer conventional when seen in the light of modern performance practice. They refer back to a playing style that could be termed “historical” in a wholly different way, namely that of a musical generation that has now died out.

The Auryn Quartet’s role models and teachers were the Amadeus Quartet and the Guarnieri Quartet. The members of the Auryn Quartet were musically “socialised” in a different era to younger musicians and they choose not to discard the aesthetic sensibilities acquired in their youth. They love the beautiful “old” string sound and keep this tradition alive, but with the diligence expected of today’s musicians. The result is timelessly beautiful music.