What the Press Says

“They brought a lightness of touch to it (the Debussy Quartet) that, especially in the first movement, contrasts sharply with the portentousness that we normally hear. The effect was lovely… a fine sense of sonority” — Ottawa Citizen (Canada), August 2007

“Endings of movements often presented high points in the performance, invoking gasps of delight and surprise from the audience, who picked up on the clever conceptions and executions of the dying phrases.” — The Record (Canada), August 2007

“… les sonorités sont chaleureuses, la mis en place impeccable…” — Diapason (France), July 2007

“Le Quatuor Alcan interprets the emotion of these pages with great eloquence which is further enhanced by the wonderful sound and the magnificent acoustic of the Françoys-Bernier Concert Hall at the Domaine Forget.” — L’actualité (Québec), May 2007

“The musicians give it (Mendelssohn Quartet Op. 80) an intense yet restrained reading that still amply conveys the heartache. The playing is graceful and poised as it shows how rich and complex Mendelssohn’s music could be.” — The Toronto Star (Canada), February 2007

“Vibrant sonority and strong feeling by the Alcan Quartet… the Adagio (Mendelssohn Op. 87) is gripping. This Chicoutimi-based ensemble has found its voice.” — The Gazette (Québec), February 2007

“The performers’ preferred way of playing is straightforward and devoid of ostentation, in this refined and yet unaffected manner that is the trademark of great musicians. Most noticeable is their sense of rhythm, naturally flowing, that allows them to almost instinctively attain unity and smoothness of phrasing.” — Le Soleil (Québec), October 2006

“The Chicoutimi based Alcan Quartet is sounding better than ever with newcomer Laura Andriani in the first violin chair. Add rich balanced sound and you have a disc that is totally worth owning.” — The Gazette (Québec), January 2006

“… the Chicoutimi based Alcan Quartet is sounding better than ever with newcomer Laura Andriani in the first violin chair. Add rich balanced sound… and this is a disc that is totally worth owning.” — The Gazette (Québec), January 2006 on Les Vendredis

“The four musicians have a wonderful sense for dynamics and maintain an attention to detail throughout that is admirable. …maverlous sonority and magnificent ensemble playing …a truly sublime interpretation!” — L'Acadie Nouvelle (Canada), July 2005

“The Alcan Quartet takes us beyond the written page, opening up a world filled with life and humor, the essence of the spirit of the music itself. All performed with a simplicity, and a refinement of taste, of the highest degree.” — Le Devoir (Québec), February 2004

“The Alcan Quartet gave a beautiful performance of Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet in F major… the four members of the quartet collaborate marvelously well together.” — ResMusica (France), July 2003

“… this is the Alcan Quartet at the peak of its form. The control of their sonority, or better yet, their sonorities, is miraculous!” — La Presse (Québec), August 2002

“In a strong performance, the players communicated the passion of the piece (Debussy quartet). The second movement, with its famous pizzicato passages, was a dazzling display of virtuosity, rhythms well controlled and the drive sustained throughout.” — San Francisco Classical Voice (USA), August 2001

“The Alcan Quartet is well on its way to establishing itself as Canada’s national quartet.” — Le Devoir (Québec), December 1999

“Opus Award (Recording of the year), an extraordinarily dramatic interpretation (Schubert) in which the four young musicians seem to breath in unison.” — La Presse (Québec)

“A fresh, delightful disc. The Alcan Quartet is perfect for this music (Mozart)… they have mastered the sense of relaxed conversational intimacy that is the essence of Mozart’s quartet writing.” — American Record Guide (USA)

“Attention to detail and a superb mastery on the part of the performers… they are totally convincing.” — Diapason (France)

“The world according to Alcan is transparent and open, with a most inviting coherence.” — Le Soleil (Québec) on Requiem für Fanny

“… the Alcan Quartet’s new Schubert CD offers an extraordinarily dramatic reading, animated by a rare unity of respiration between the four young partners.” — La Presse (Québec) on String quartet No 8, Op. 168 in B major; String quartet no 14 in D minor

“This is a fresh, delightful disc. The Alcan Quartet is perfect for this music. Tempos are elastic where they should be, and there is a wealth of nuance but no trace of fussiness or eccentricity. The players always pinpoint just the right mood for each moment, and they know how to make this music sound natural and its incidents obvious and inevitable. They have a firm grasp of the peculiar combination of unpretentious urbanity and innocence that are the essence of Mozart’s unique beauty. Above all, they have mastered the sense of relaxed conversational intimacy that is the essence of Mozart’s quartet writing.” — American Record Guide (USA) on “Haydn” String Quartets

“4/5” — Diapason (France) on Late string quartets: in G major, Op.77 No 1, in F major Op.77 No 2 & Unfinished Quartet Op.103

“… an attention to detail combined with a superb technical control… the Alcan Quartet is totally convincing.” — Diapason (France) on Late string quartets: in G major, Op.77 No 1, in F major Op.77 No 2 & Unfinished Quartet Op.103

“The members of the Alcan Quartet amply demonstrate with this recording that they possess all the essential qualities of any string quartet worthy of its name, coordination, homogenous sound, naturel feeling, interaction between the four instruments and a continuity of interpretation” — Le Soleil (Québec) on Late string quartets: in G major, Op.77 No 1, in F major Op.77 No 2 & Unfinished Quartet Op.103

“4/5” — Diapason (France) on String Quartets

“A superb sonority from each member of the quartet… combined with an exceptional sense of ensemble. The ‘Serenade Italian’ of Wolf sparkles with a marvelous freshness and a very seductive elegance” — Diapason (France) on String Quartets

“An elegant and eloquent use of their bows in Debussy, an irresistible romantic flavor in the Borodin, humor and freshness in the Wolf” — La Presse (Québec) on String Quartets

“A very agreeable moment spent in excellent company. The performers play the seducers, and the role fits them marvelously” — Le Devoir (Québec) on Waltzes (transcriptions: Berg, Webern & Schönberg) & Bagatelles

“The Alcan Quartet has a full rich sound combined with an excellent blend which is well suited to the sophisticated harmonies of Prévost’s music. …a significant achievement, should be included in any serious collection of contemporary music.” — Érudit (Québec) on String Quartets Nos 2-4