William Shield String Quartets Op. 3
1782 marked a turning point for William Shield: he became ‘house’ composer at Covent Garden, premiered his lasting hit Rosina, and published his Op. 3 String Quartets, among the finest 18th-century works by an English composer.
The Op. 3 Quartets reflect Shield’s balance between performer and composer.
They combine elegant textures, clear part-writing, and expressive character: pastoral and hunting scenes, lively rondos, and moments of Sturm-und-Drang drama.
The final C-minor quartet, passionate and unified in design, stands as his most forward-looking work.
