Vier Quartette Für Flöte, Violine, Viola Und Violoncello

Released in 1980 by the Swiss label Ex Libris, this recording features Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s four quartets for flute and strings. The ensemble is led by the esteemed Swiss flutist Peter-Lukas Graf, accompanied by Heribert Lauer on violin, Franz Hirschfeld on viola, and Esther Nyffenegger on cello. The album was produced during a period when Ex Libris was dedicated to making high-quality classical performances accessible to a broader audience through their house label, often featuring musicians with deep connections to the Swiss and German concert scenes.

The performance is characterized by the refined, lyrical approach favored by Peter-Lukas Graf, who was instrumental in elevating the flute as a primary solo instrument in the late 20th century. The quartet repertoire was originally composed by Mozart in the late 1770s, though it is famously noted that he had a lukewarm relationship with the flute, reportedly finding the instrument’s technical limitations challenging at the time. This specific recording is celebrated by collectors for its clean, balanced production typical of the late analog era, showcasing the cohesive interplay between the quartet members.