String Quartets Op. 77 & Folk Music from Scotland

After two critically acclaimed albums, the Maxwell Quartet concludes its Haydn miniature series with his two string quartets op. 77, which as always are combined with a selection of Scottish folk music. The Maxwell Quartet, known for its "infectious enthusiasm" and "irresistible" playing (BBC Music Magazine), demonstrates its compelling storytelling talent with Haydn's final foray into the genre. The two quartets harmonize and complement each other perfectly: one brilliant, enigmatic, youthful and light, the other thoughtful, noble and with a certain gravity. The selection of Scottish folk music is equally well-balanced and ranges from cheerful - The Marquis of Tullibardine, Captain Campbell's March, etc. - to somber - Heather's March - to the melancholic - Hector de Held. The programme embodies the aphorism of Hatto Beyerle (the mentor of the Maxwell Quartet and dedicatee of this album): 'To truly understand Haydn's music, you must first understand folk music'.