Quartet Op. 2, No. 1 in A major (Hob. III: 7)
Quartet Op. 2, No. 2 in E major (Hob. III: 8)
Quartet Op. 2, No. 4 in F major (Hob. III: 10)
Quartet Op. 2, No. 6 in B-flat major (Hob. III: 12)

Hot on the heels of their previous Volume 18 recording released a mere four months ago the Leipzig String Quartet now present us their fresh account of some of the early Op. 2 quartets, which back in the 1760s were considered bold and innovative.

If I may allow myself a description by way of a metaphor: If the four musicians who make up the Leipzig String Quartet were into synchronized swimming instead, they would easily win each and every competition. There's an intrinsic symbiosis and synergy to their playing that can only come with experience. They have after all released over 100 recordings since their formation back in 1988. But this doesn't entail dry, routine and predictable playing. Quite the contrary, they easily expose the sense of fun and delight within the Scherzo Presto movement of the No. 6 during which, if you listen carefully, you can hear one of the members quietly muttering his energetic accents. And they can just as well bring out the music's lyrical sorrow as in the Adagio movement of the No. 4. But all in all, as I'm sure you've noticed, there's not a minor key in sight within these early quartets, so the Leipzig String Quartet's sunny disposition is always front and center, and well at the service of Haydn's intent.