Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838) is still best known today for the early phase of his career, when he studied with Beethoven and then became his secretary. He copied scores and took care of the correspondence of a composer whose relationship with the outside world became even more unpredictable with the onset of his deafness.

However, Ries (born in Bonn like his master) fled Vienna in 1807 and then began a well-traveled career - in Paris, then again in Vienna, venturing as far as St. Petersburg and London before settling in Frankfurt. As part of his prolific output, he wrote 30 separate works for solo flute, almost all of which date from his time in London (1813-24), where he earned a reputation as a piano teacher to the well-to-do while producing his own music for London's vibrant concert life.

The three Quartets Op. 145 for flute, violin, viola and cello were composed in 1814-15 and published in 1826, while the Trio of Quartets WoO35 belongs to Ries' later creative period in Germany. Ries dedicated Op. 145 to Charles Aders, a wealthy amateur flautist who had probably commissioned him to write it. There is no indication that the composer 'wrote it down' to accommodate any limitations in the playing of the dedicatee - neither in the poignant and tempestuous emotions that pervade Quartet No. 2, nor in the lively spirit of the final movements, such as the Allegro all'espagnola of Quartet No. 1. As Ginevra Petrucci notes in her booklet essay, Ries "masterfully balances the variety of forms with captivating expression." "The density and variety of the compositions are remarkable and are characterized by thematic richness, rich modulations, rhythmic contrasts and variations." This applies all the more to the later quartets WoO35, which were probably written with the flautist Anton Bernhard Fürstenau in mind. The expression is clearly more refined and romantic than in the earlier movement, sometimes gentler, often with a more sophisticated dialog between flute and strings, "with an almost Beethovenian character."

Born in Italy, Ginevra Petrucci graduated from Stony Brook and Yale. Based in New York, she performs throughout the USA, but always returns to Europe for projects such as this recording. She is accompanied here by Trio David, a trio of Italian musicians who came together in 2020 and have since given concerts throughout Italy and recorded Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari's string trios for Brilliant Classics.

- Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838) was born in Bonn and moved to Vienna in 1801, where his life became closely intertwined with that of Ludwig van Beethoven (also a native of Bonn...). Ries studied piano with him, copied his scores and interpreted several new works, in particular the premiere of the Third Piano Concerto. Ries also wrote the first biography of Beethoven, an invaluable source of first-hand information.

- Ries' style is inevitably modeled on that of his master Beethoven, but he was strong enough to stand on his own two feet. His compositions include symphonies, violin and piano concertos, three operas and numerous chamber works, reflecting a style that combines classicism and early romanticism.

- Ries' flute quartets are characterized by their concertante qualities. The flute shines in brilliant passages, while the themes and developments are shared by all four instruments. The expressive individuality of these pieces, with original and coherent dialogs between the protagonists, places them among the best of their genre after Mozart's works.

- Played by the Italian flautist Ginevra Petrucci, who has already brilliantly recorded chamber music works by Beethoven, Kuhlau, Briccialdi, Haydn and Muczynski for her instrument.