Following an invitation from Saint-Saëns, Fauré joined the Société Nationale de Musique in 1871. Here he became acquainted with Franck, D’Indy, Bizet and other prominent French musicians. The Society set itself the mission of promoting French music and offering a forum for the circulation of orchestral and chamber works. The Society was to have a great influence on Fauré. In an interview in 1922, he spoke “The truth is that, before 1870, I would not have dreamt of composing a sonata or quartet. Only when Saint- Saëns founded the Société did I set about doing so.” And in fact almost all Fauré’s chamber works had their premieres under the auspices of the Société Nationale de Musique

Kathryn Stott is an internationally acknowledged interpreter of Fauré’s piano music. BBC Music Magazine recently wrote, ‘Kathryn Stott reinforces her position as one of the finest Fauré interpreters of her generation’. She has also been behind several major festivals and concert series. For her involvement in ‘Fauré and the French Connection’ she was appointed Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French government.

She has long wished to record Fauré’s hauntingly beautiful two piano quartets, but was looking for the right ensemble. She has found that in the form of the Hermitage String Trio, a group she has toured with on a number of occasions. The Strad recently wrote of the grounp, “This ensemble will do much to put more string trio repertory on the musical map” The quartets are presented with the solo piano work, Nocturne No.4; a unique combination and fresh interpretations, recorded in warm Chandos sound.

Founded in 2004, The Hermitage String Trio soon established itself as among the finest ensembles of its type. Steeped in the renowned Russian tradition of string playing, the members of this European-based Russian trio possess a love of chamber music that shines through in their programmes.