British composer Lydia Kakabadse (with roots in Greece, Austria, Russia and Georgia) reflects her cultural heritage inmusic that has western and mid-Asian elements - while this is strongest in her choral music, it is heard to good effect in her chamber works, which are often written in model intonation: her first chamber album was received with rave reviews. This album concentrates on the "alternative" string quartet line-up with double bass, one piece for cello and bass duo and one for mezzo-soprano and quartet. The title "Concertato" derives from the usage in baroqu emusic meaning a rivalry or contrast between the instruments: the composer uses this to emphasize lines and dialogues between instruments, especially so in the cello/bass duo which gives the album its name.
