Joseph Phibbs: String Quartets 2–4. Piatti Quartet. Nimbus

“Because this CD is so captivating that it can’t be a coincidence – perhaps because Phibbs has a particular fondness for strings, or because the Piatti Quartet simply plays fantastically. There’s something else: These quartets manage to be reminiscent of no other existing ones, even though enough composers have tackled this demanding genre. Phibbs even manages to do without overly extravagant playing techniques or electronic additions. What’s more, his quartets “sound” without being accused of being sonorous, and they certainly don’t rehash older styles or isms. For all their sense of lyricism, this is truly exciting, unmistakably contemporary, and at the same time timeless music.”

Mátyás Kiss, Neue musikzeitung, October 2025