The three works on this recording are characteristic of the rebirth of the string quartet in Italy after an extended hiatus following the quartets by Boccherini and Cherubini. The quartets by Respighi, Rota and Malipiero represent the continuation of Verdi’s individual forays into this genre and in a sense the development of the string quartet in Italy in the first half of this century.

The Nuovo Quartetto Italiano (formerly Giovane Quartetto Italiano) offer superlative performances of these neglected Italian masterpieces. This is the Italian ensemble’s fourth recording for Claves. Their previous recordings, which feature compositions by Cambini, Donizetti, Puccini, Verdi, Martucci and Haydn, have received international acclamation from the press.