Opus13, a young string quartet and current BBC New Generation Artists, have released their debut album on Alpha Classics, pairing works by Mendelssohn and Grieg. The quartet has already established themselves as competition winners at Wigmore Hall and Bordeaux, and this recording lives up to expectations, demonstrating both technical assurance and distinctive interpretation.

The album opens with Mendelssohn's Op 13 No 2—the work that inspired the quartet's name when they formed as teenagers in Oslo in 2014—followed by Grieg's Quartet No 1. The performers demonstrate sensitivity to both composers: the Mendelssohn piece features a soulful introduction that breaks into a tense, urgent allegro reminiscent of Beethoven, whilst the Grieg is characterised by folk influences and Nordic fiddle elements that build through the work with exuberance and elegance. The album concludes with a characterful ensemble arrangement of Solveig's Song, credited equally to all group members.