What the Press Says

“So polished was the Alcan’s performance that they had the audience bowing and scraping to their talents.” — The Intelligencer (Canada), September 2010

“La dextérité des quatre instrumentistes est fabuleuse, leur connivence s’avère un ingrédient essentiel à cette sonorité exceptionnelle…” — Nord Info et Voix des Mille-Îles (Québec), April 2010

“Les interprétations de Laura Andriani notamment et de Steven Dann furent transcendantes” — , October 2008

“The Mozart quartet was magnificent — phrases executed with such precision and eloquence, with such a glowing, round tone all through each movement. Ellis’ cello solo was like honey slowly being poured from the sun.” — The Guardian (UK), August 2008

“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), August 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), August 2007

“… les sonorités sont chaleureuses, la mis en place impeccable…” — Diapason (France), July 2007

“Le Quatuor Alcan interprets the emotion of these pages with great eloquence which is further enhanced by the wonderful sound and the magnificent acoustic of the Françoys-Bernier Concert Hall at the Domaine Forget.” — L’actualité (Québec), May 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), February 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), February 2007

“The performers’ preferred way of playing is straightforward and devoid of ostentation, in this refined and yet unaffected manner that is the trademark of great musicians. Most noticeable is their sense of rhythm, naturally flowing, that allows them to almost instinctively attain unity and smoothness of phrasing.” — Le Soleil (Québec), October 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), January 2006

“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), July 2005

“The Alcan Quartet takes us beyond the written page, opening up a world filled with life and humor, the essence of the spirit of the music itself. All performed with a simplicity, and a refinement of taste, of the highest degree.” — Le Devoir (Québec), February 2004

“The Alcan Quartet gave a beautiful performance of Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet in F major… the four members of the quartet collaborate marvelously well together.” — ResMusica (France), July 2003

“… this is the Alcan Quartet at the peak of its form. The control of their sonority, or better yet, their sonorities, is miraculous!” — La Presse (Québec), August 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 (USA), August 2001

“The Alcan Quartet is well on its way to establishing itself as Canada’s national quartet.” — Le Devoir (Québec), December 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 (USA)

“Attention to detail and a superb mastery on the part of the performers… they are totally convincing.” — Diapason (France)