Ten by four

All 10 of David Matthews string quartets are to be issued on the Toccata label. Performed by the Kreutzer Quartet (violinists Peter Sheppard Skrved and Gordon MacKay, viola-player Bridget Carey and cellist Neil Heyde), Quartets Nos 4,6 and 10 were recorded at London

Royal Academy of Music in August 2008 and are due to be issued in the summer. The remaining works will be recorded throughout 2009 and onwards.

Comparing notes Gramophone Awardwinning violinist

James Ehnes and pianist Eduard Laurel will issue "Homage" on the

Onyx label in February. The project sees Ehnes perform on 12 of the world greatest violins and violas by makers including Stradivari, Guarneri "del Gesà" and Guadagnini, all from the collection of David Fulton. The package comprises a recital programme on CD and a 100-minute DVD showcasing comparison excerpts on nine violins from

Bruch Scottish Fantasy and on three violas from Berlioz's Harold in Italy.

Happy birthday

In celebration of Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich 70th birthday, a disc of her works performed by artists of the Chamber Music

Society of Lincoln Center will be released by

Koch Records later in the season. Included on the disc are the Clarinet Concerto played by soloist David Shifrin and members of the society; String Quartet No 2 performed by the Orion Quartet (violinists Daniel and Todd Phillips, viola-player Steven Tenenbom and cellist Timothy Eddy); and the String Trio performed by violinist Ani Kavafian, viola player Paul Neubauer and cellist Fred Sherry.