Ensemble Tamuz: Onslow

The Strad Issue: February 2026

Description: An impressive debut from a fine period-instrument band

Musicians: Ensemble Tamuz

Works: Onslow: String Quintets: no.25 in F minor, no.28 in G minor

Catalogue number: CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC720026

Period-instrument Ensemble Tamuz’s debut album includes the world premiere recording of Onslow’s String Quintet no.25, following the recent discovery of its original manuscript. Historical awareness is foremost on these players’ agenda, their principal aim being to exploit the full expressive palette of early 19th-century performance practices. The close, clear and reverberant recording amply supports their objective.

Although leader Hed Yaron-Meyerson is the principal protagonist, his colleagues (including both cellists) make meaningful solo and interactive contributions to the cause.

All respond sensitively to these works’ moods and expressive vocabulary and faithfully convey the so-called French Beethoven’s dramatic style, notably in the Adagio opening of no.28’s first movement, the conversational development of the subsequent, largely melancholic, Allegro moderato and the powerful finales of both quintets.

They allow the music to breathe for maximum impact, clearly delineating structural pillars, demonstrating sensitivity to Onslow’s unique harmonic language and adopting swooning portamentos and sliding shifts to telling effect, especially in no.25’s Scherzo.

Exploiting an extensive dynamic range, the musicians introduce extempore ornamentation as appropriate and employ melodic flexibility and tempo fluctuation to align with the music’s mood swings, notably in no.28’s energetic Menuet impetuoso and finale and the first movement of no.25.

Their intonation and ensemble, severely tested by numerous unison/octave passages between voices, are commendable.

ROBIN STOWELL