Hugo Wolf Quartett & Bernarda Fink

In 1993, four young string players obtained permission from the International Hugo Wolf Gesellschaft to name their brand new string quartet the Hugo Wolf Quartet. The late-romantic composer Hugo Wolf occupied a position between the great Viennese music tradition and the Viennese moderns. His name serves as a symbol for the quartet repertoire that ranged from the classical up to the Second Viennese School. We are familiar with Wolf first and foremost from about 250 songs. Less well-known is his 'Italienische Serenade' for string quartet, based on material from his own 'Eichendorff-Lieder'. He drew the inspiration for his 'Italienisches Liederbuch' from the Italian renaissance poetry translated by Paul Heyse. 'Il Tramonto' is an exceedingly beautiful song for string quartet and mezzo by Ottorino Respighi, which embroiders on Italian atmospheres. The highly-praised mezzo Bernarda Fink lets her warm timbre merge into the Hugo Wolf Quartet's rich palette of colours. Pure sensual pleasure!