BENJAMIN GODARD (1849-1895): String Quartets No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 33, No. 2 in A, Op. 37 and No. 3 in A, Op. 136.

Description: All three of these works (from 1876, 1877 and 1892) are linked by a lyricism, melodic grace and, especially in No. 2, a meltingly attractive pastoral quality. In fact, this is such an example of winning Romanticism that, given that Godard left 150 opus numbers, one regrets that so many of them were salon piano pieces when there could have been more quartets. Quatuor Élysée.