De Groote String Quartet: Pierre De Groote (violin), Georges Maes (violin), Louis Logie (viola), Lucien De Groote (cello)
Ravel's Quartet in F was written in 1902-3, when the composer was twenty-seven years of age. Although an early work, it shows no signs of immaturity. The music is full of romantic and lyrical qualities and the presentation and treatment of thematic material are concise and clear in every detail. The four movements follow each other with a certain inevitability due to the composer's method of cyclic thematic development: that is to say, the themes of the scherzo, slow movement, and finale are based on motives from the two principal themes of the first movement. The scherzo is particularly noteworthy for its striking pizzicato effects. It is written with the neatness and elegance and perfectly polished craftsmanship so characteristic of French music in general and of Ravel in particular.
Concert given before an audience in the Concert Hall, Broadcasting House. London