Emilie Mayer - String Quartets, Vol. 2 (Constanze Quartet)

Information

Composer: Emilie Mayer

• String Quartet in G minor, Op. 14
• String Quartet in F major

Constanze Quartet

    Emeline Pierre Larsen, violin

    Sara Mayer, violin

    Elen Guloyan, viola

    Julia Simma-Ammerer, cello

Date: 2026

Label: CPO

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Emilie Mayer's string quartets, performed by the Constanze Quartet, reveal Mayer’s skill in classical structures, refined melodic writing, and nuanced harmonic language, extending her reputation beyond her better-known symphonic output. While only seven of her twelve quartets have survived, the recordings demonstrate the depth and sophistication of her chamber music style, generating anticipation for further volumes in a planned complete edition. This interpretation brings vitality and clarity to repertoire that has long remained underrepresented in the concert canon.

Emilie Mayer (1812–1883) was a German Romantic composer known for her substantial contributions to symphonic and chamber music, earning considerable recognition during her lifetime. Often referred to as the “female Beethoven,” she was particularly admired for her command of large-scale forms and expressive orchestral writing. Mayer studied piano from an early age and later pursued composition more seriously, working with influential teachers such as Carl Loewe and Adolf Bernhard Marx. Her oeuvre includes eight symphonies, overtures, piano works, and string quartets that demonstrate strong structural clarity and lyrical invention. After her death, her music fell into relative obscurity but has been increasingly revived in recent years, reaffirming her importance as one of the most significant women composers of the 19th century.

The Constanze Quartet, also known as the Constanze Quartet Salzburg, is a chamber ensemble founded in 2016 in Salzburg and dedicated primarily to the performance and recording of neglected and lesser-known repertoire. Its international membership includes musicians from France, Austria, and Armenia, reflecting a diverse artistic background. The quartet has gained recognition through award-winning performances, competition success, and collaborations with established chamber musicians across Europe. Signed to the CPO label, the ensemble has released recordings of works by composers such as Felix Draeseke and Michael Haydn, as well as 19th-century composer Emilie Mayer. Through its concerts and recordings, the quartet has built a reputation for reviving overlooked chamber music and bringing it to contemporary audiences with stylistic clarity and interpretive depth.