Schumann: String Quartets Nos. 1–3

All three string quartets on this CD were composed within a few weeks in the summer of 1842 and display the utmost inventiveness, wit, refinement, and virtuosity. A profound sense of longing and emotional intensity runs through the quartets. The textures reveal that Schumann was inspired by piano composition techniques when composing them. The short period in which they were written makes a comparison of their similarities and differences particularly fascinating. The Ying Quartet is one of the leading American string quartets and performs regularly on renowned international concert stages, from New York to Sydney. The ensemble's enduring, inquisitive exploration of its creative possibilities has led the Ying Quartet to engage in a wide range of unusual musical projects.