List of Flute and String Quartet / Quintet Recordings of the Classical Era

Flute is arguably the next most popular instruments to paired to string quartet and quintet ensemble. The quartet for flute and string trio that formed flute quartet have wide repertoire, I believe much larger than, said, clarinet or oboe or other woodwinds instrument. The form seemingly enjoyed popularity in Classical Era. Apart from well known Mozart's four flute quartets, sadly lesser piece have been known to this category. Here are the list of most popular recording available in the market for the last 15 years that created flute quartet and flute quintet. I sort the list according to composer's lifetime, and some short commentary on notable piece.

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Quartets for Flute, Violin, Viola da Gamba, Bk 1 "Paris Quartets"
by Reinhard Goebel, Musica Antiqua Koln - BUY IT HERE

The Paris Quartets is the earliest flute quartet that stand out from the crowd. The piece was created in the late Baroque era, one can link this to earliest form of string quartet in overall. 



Johann Joachim Quantz (1697–1773): Six Flute Quartets 2004
by Mary Oleskiewicz (baroque flute after Quantz), Elizabeth Field (baroque violin), Daniel Elyar (baroque viola), Stephanie Vial (baroque cello), David Schulenberg (harpsichord). - BUY IT HERE

J.J. Quantz was one of most important composer in flute repertoire. These are his flute chamber works where it was composed for Flute, violin, viola, cello and also harpsichord.


Louis-Gabriel Guillemain (1705 –1770)
Birth Of The String Quartet, Vol. 2 - The Sound Of The 18th Century
by Casal Quartett - BUY IT HERE
Guillemain composed six flute quartets op.12, Six sonates en quatuors ou conversations galantes, for flute, violin, bass viol, and basso continuo (1743) This recording performed in string quartet version.



Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714 – 1788): 3 Flute Quartets CD
by Jean-Philippe Vasseur (viola) , Laure Colladant (Piano), Antoine Ladrette (Cello), Philippe Allain-Dupre (Flute)





Friedrich Hartmann Graf (1727-1795): 6 Flute Quartets
by Peter Ligeti and Rezso Pertorini - 1995 - BUY IT HERE


Joseph Haydn (1732–1809): Flute Quartets, Op. 5 / London Trios Hob II:D9
by Kuijken Ensemble - BUY IT HERE

Unfortunately, Haydn believe to never compose pure flute quartet, this works is spurious as other composer's works.


François Joseph Gossec (1734–1829): 6 Flute Quartets
by Aurèle Nicolet - 1996 BUY IT HERE

Six flute quartet that resembling familiarity with Haydn's string quartets. Highly recommended.


Johann Christian Bach (1735–1782): Flute Quartets op. 19
by Camerata Koln (Orchestra) - BUY IT HERE

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Johann Baptist Vanhal (1739–1813): Flute Quartets
by Janaki Trio, Uwe Grodd (Flute) - 2007 - BUY IT HERE


Ernst Eichner (1740–1777): Six Flute Quartets 2013
by Il Gardellino - 2013 -  BUY IT HERE

The six flute quartets by Ernst Eichner are more simple works.


Giovanni Paisiello (1740-1816): Quartets for Flute Op.23
by  Ferrarini, Accademia Farnese   - BUY IT HERE


Luigi Boccherini (1743–1805): Quartet for Flute & Strings 2006
by I Solisti di Zagreb 2006 - BUY IT HERE

Boccherini: Flute Quintets Op.55
by Auryn String Quartet, Michael Faust (Flute) 2000 - BUY IT HERE

Boccherini: Flute Quintets Op.17
by Alexandre Magnin, Janacek Quartet 1996 - BUY IT HERE


Giuseppe Cambini (1746–1825): 6 Flute Quartets T.145- T.150
by Quartetto DuePiùDue 2015  - BUY IT HERE


Carl Stamitz (1745-1801):
Chamber Works - Quartet Op.4-6 for Flute, Violin, Viola and Cello
by Camerata Koln 2000 - BUY IT HERE

Highly recomended


Domenico Cimarosa (1749-1801): Six Flute Quartets
by Loic Poulain , Dolezal Quartet of Prague - BUY IT HERE


Bartolomeo Campagnoli (1751–1827): Six Flute Quartets
by Nicola Giudetti 2009 - BUY IT HERE


Federigo Fiorillo (1755-1823): Six Flute Quartets
by Ensemble A l'antica, Luigi Lupo (flute), Rossella Croce (violin), Luca Ronconi (viola), Rebeca Ferri (cello) 2012 - BUY IT HERE

Works are very melodious, also recommended.


Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755–1824): 3 Flute Quartets Op. 22
by Quartetto Di Salisburgo 1995 - BUY IT HERE


Joseph Martin Kraus (1756–1792):  Flute Quintet, String Quartets
by Shuppanzigh Quartet 2008 - BUY IT HERE

It is blundled with Krauss' string quartets.


Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838) Flute Quartet in D Minor Op.4 - in D Major Op.8
by Rantatie Quartet - Mikael Helasvuo (Flute) - BUY IT HERE



Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791): Flute Quartets
by Jean-Pierre Rampal, Salvatoire Accardo, Isaac Stern, Mstislav Rostropovich 1986 - BUY IT HERE

The most famous flute quartet in the repertoire, this recording is the supergroup formation.


Pavel Wranitzky (1756–1808): 3 Flute Quartets, Op.28
by Dolezal Quartet 1995 - BUY IT HERE


Ignaz Pleyel (1757-1831): Flute Quartets
by Dénes Karasszon , Gergely Balázs , Pál Németh , Piroska Vitárius - BUY IT HERE

This one actually arrangement from Pleyel's string quartets


Alessandro Rolla (1757–1841): 6 Flute Quartets
by Quartetto Erasmus, Mario Carbotta (Flute) - BUY IT HERE


Franz Krommer (1759–1831): Flute Quintets Op.49 - Op.63 - Op.101
by Stamitz Quartet, Bruno Meier 1995

Krommer: Flute Quintets Op. 55, 58, & 109
by Stamitz Quartet Bruno Meier - 1992

Krommer Flute Quartet Op.17, 92, 93
Three Flute Quartets 2011
by Peter-Lukas Graf & Carmina-Trio - BUY IT HERE


Francois Devienne (1759 – 1803): 4 Flute Quartets
by Barthold Kuijken , Ryo Terakado , Sara Kuijken , Wieland Kuijken - BUY IT HERE



Adalbert Gyrowetz (1763–1850): Flute Quartets Op 11 #1-3
by Ensemble Agora - 1999 - BUY IT HERE


Franz Danzi (1763-1826): Flute Quartets Op 56
Ardinghello Ensemble: Karl Kaiser (Flute), Annette Rehberger (violin), Bodo Friedrich (violin), Ursala Kaiser (cello) - BUY IT HERE


Jakub Jan Ryba (1765-1815): Flute Quartets
by Nostitz Quartet, Jan Ostry (flute) - 2004 - BUY IT HERE

Two Flute quartets were recorded in this album, Flute Quartet in C Major and F Major. Recommended.


Anton Reicha (1770–1836): Quartets for Flute, Violin, Viola and Bass, Op.98 Nos. 1-3
by Aurele Nicolet and Mozart String Trio -  BUY IT HERE
by Konrad Hunteler - 1996 BUY IT HERE

Antoine Reicha had been known for his woodwind chamber works. The opus 98 consisted of three flute quartets are exceptionally excellent. All three quartets are very well written. Highly recommended.

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Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838): Flute Quartets Op 145
by John Herrick Littlefield (Flute), Aaron Boyd, Ah Ling Neu, Yari Bond - 2007 - BUY IT HERE


Ferdinand Ries: Complete Flute Quartets Six quartets Op.145 No.1-3 , WoO35 No,1-3
by  Fret (Flute), Laub (Violin), Smalt (Viola), Vink (Cello) - BUY IT HERE


Friedrich Kuhlau (1786-1832): Flute Quintets
by Juilliard String Quartet - 1989 - BUY IT HERE


Frederic Ernest Fesca (1789 – 1826): Flute Quartets
by Linos Ensemble - 2009 - BUY IT HERE


Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868):4 Flute Quartets
by Peter-Lukas Graf (Flute), Carmina Trio - BUY IT HERE


Saverio Mercadante (1795-1870) :Flute Quartets
by Munich String Trio (Orchestra), Andras Adorjan - BUY IT HERE


Franz Schubert (1797–1828): Quartet for Flute, Guitar, Viola & Cello
by Clive Conway and Paul Silverthorne - 1993 - BUY IT HERE

D.96 Quartet for Flute, Guitar, Viola and Cello is important quartet by Schubert that incorporated flute. It is quite interesting to see a guitar being inserted here to replace violin in traditional form. The piece resembling middle Schubert's style, largely different to Schubert best works in string quartet such as his "Death and Maiden" style. They are happy sounding.


Franciszek Lessel (1780 – 1838) : Quartet in G for Flute and Strings, Op. 3
by Wilanow String Quartet, Elzbieta Gajewska (flute) - BUY IT HERE


Louis Théodore Gouvy (1819 – 1898): Serenades for Flute & Strings
by Markus Bronniman (Flute), Kreisler Quartet, Ilka Emmert (double bass)  - BUY IT HERE


Volkmar Andreae (1879–1962): String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2 / Quartet for flute and strings
by Locrian Ensemble of London, Anna Noakes (Flute)  - BUY IT HERE


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Will expanded the list when I spot new / other flute quartet recording.