Dossier de presse

«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), août 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), août 2007

«… les sonorités sont chaleureuses, la mis en place impeccable…» — Diapason (France), juillet 2007

«Le Quatuor Alcan rend l’émotion de ces pages avec une éloquence magnifiée par la prise de son et l’acoustique formidable de la salle Françoys-Bernier, du Domaine Forget.» — L’actualité (Québec), mai 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), février 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), février 2007

«Les interprètes affectionnent ce jeu droit, sans flafla, ce style distingué, sans prétention ni lourdeur, qui est la marque des grands musiciens. On note surtout leur sens du rythme, souple et naturel, qui permet d’arriver d’une manière presque instinctive à un phrasé fondu et unanime.» — Le Soleil (Québec), octobre 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), janvier 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), janvier 2006 à propos de 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), juillet 2005

«L’Alcan réussit à transcender la rigueur de l’écriture pour en faire savourer tout l’esprit, voire l’humour, avec une simplicité digne du plus grand raffinement. Tout cela est servi avec, chose rare aujourd’hui, une sonorité assez unique.» — Le Devoir (Québec), février 2004

«Le Quatuor Alcan a offert un Quatuor à cordes en fa majeur de Maurice Ravel de toute beauté… Visiblement, les quatre membres du Quatuor Alcan s’entendent à merveille.» — ResMusica (France), juillet 2003

«… c’est l’Alcan des grands jours que nous écoutons. Le contrôle de la sonorité, ou plutôt des sonorités, est miraculeux!» — La Presse (Québec), août 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 (ÉU), août 2001

«The Alcan Quartet is well on its way to establishing itself as Canada’s national quartet.» — Le Devoir (Québec), décembre 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 (ÉU)

«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) à propos de 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) à propos de Quatuor à cordes no 8, op. 168 en si majeur; Quatuor à cordes no 14 en ré mineur

«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 (ÉU) à propos de Quatuors dédiés à Haydn

«4/5» — Diapason (France) à propos de Les derniers quatuors à cordes: en sol majeur op.77 no 1, en fa majeur op.77 no 2 & Quatuor inachevé op.103

«… an attention to detail combined with a superb technical control… the Alcan Quartet is totally convincing.» — Diapason (France) à propos de Les derniers quatuors à cordes: en sol majeur op.77 no 1, en fa majeur op.77 no 2 & Quatuor inachevé 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) à propos de Les derniers quatuors à cordes: en sol majeur op.77 no 1, en fa majeur op.77 no 2 & Quatuor inachevé op.103

«4/5» — Diapason (France) à propos de Quatuors à cordes

«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) à propos de Quatuors à cordes

«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) à propos de Quatuors à cordes

«A very agreeable moment spent in excellent company. The performers play the seducers, and the role fits them marvelously» — Le Devoir (Québec) à propos de Valses (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) à propos de String Quartets Nos 2-4