Described as “quite exceptional” Gramophone and a group that is “poetic, charismatic and virtuosic” Sunday Telegraph, the Elias String Quartet is considered one of the most fresh and exciting quartets of their generation. 

This live recital recording captures the young quartet’s fervent passion and infectious enthusiasm for the music of Mendelssohn, Mozart and Schubert. 

The recording opens with Schubert’s great unfinished work, the Quartettsatz in C minor, considered to be the forerunner of the late great string quartets for which Schubert is best remembered. This is followed by Mozart's famous ‘Dissonance’ quartet, dedicated to Joseph Haydn. 

The programme ends with Felix Mendelssohn. With 2009 being Mendelssohn’s bicentenary year, the Elias String Quartet chose this work to showcase a side of the composer’s genius they believe is highly underrated. 

After winning all the Royal Northern College of Music quartet awards, they spent a year studying with the Alban Berg Quartet in Cologne. They have since received many honours at major international competitions, including multiple awards at the 2003 London International String Quartet Competition.