For years I had Rosetti's Quartet no. 1, enjoying it as a gem-like example of early Classical, or the term I like, Rococo. Though Rosetti is little known, he was one of those marvelous composers whose works seem to come from the soul of an era and its sensibility. The quartets op. 6 typify the courtly, witty, refined, balanced and tasteful spirit of the fine arts in the final third of the eighteenth century. Moreover, this well-crafted music is freshly entertaining, a pleasure to listen to. The no. 1 was the only quartet obtainable, as far as I could determine, until this CD appeared. The Arioso Quartet's performance makes the most of Rosetti's talent as a composer, and cpo's recording is superb, as usual. Unfortunately, there seem to be scarcely any other recordings by the Arioso Quartet. They should unearth other neglected quartets from the same era.
