This recording presents three relatively unknown yet highly rewarding instrumental works by the French composer Félicien David. The highly rated Quatuor Cambini - Paris here perform his first two String Quartets as well as the one movement unfinished fourth.

Founded in 2007 and based in Paris, Quatuor Cambini are known for rediscovering rare works from the classical and romantic repertoire as well as performance on period instruments. Its leader Julien Chauvin is the co-founder and solo violin of Le Cercle de l’Harmonie and members of the quartet have played in many of the most renowned orchestral groups in Europe including Le Cercle de l’Harmonie, Ensemble Baroque de Limoges, Les Talens Lyriques, and L’Orchestre des Champs-Elysées. Following a first recording dedicated to the music of Hyacinthe Jadin on the Timpani label, the quartet now records exclusively for Naïve/Ambroisie.

The 19th century French composer Félicien David is remembered almost exclusively for his operas-comiques “La Perle du Brésil” and “Le Désert” as well as his oratiorio “Moïse au Sinaï”. However, whereas many of his contemporaries and compatriots such as Gounod, Bizet and Massenet concentrated on writing for the opera house David maintained a lifelong interest in instrumental music. His output includes twenty-four short string quintets, four symphonies, two nonets for brass, four string quartets and three piano trios.

While the influence in his songs and operas was largely Eastern (he spent a considerable amount of time living in Egypt), his chamber music has its roots in the Germanic tradition.