I'm listening to a set of six string quartets written by the teacher of Puccini and Mascagni. They are very tuneful and rhythmically very interesting. There is gentle humor and the individual parts are rich, too. No second violinist or violist will fall asleep. They sometimes nod in Beethoven and Mendelssohn's direction, and they all are absolutely lovely. Antonio Bazzini ... as far as I know this set of three cds on Dynamic is the only performance of these gems. They are performed lovingly by the Quartetto d'Archi di Venezia, the same group that has also recorded the Saint-Saens and Respighi string quartets, also worth adding to your chambermusic collection. Bazzini was born in 1818 and died in 1897 ... (My favorite years for composers!) He is mostly known for a few virtuosos pieces. These quartets, however, could be played successfully by amateurs! Musicians who can handle Beethoven op. 18 #1 could play these quartets. Mimi Ezust