At the dawn of the twentieth century, Paris, more than any other city, experienced the metamorphosis of the arts into modern times. The vibrations of colours and light on the canvases of Monet, Seurat and their contemporaries were transmuted into sounds in the output of Debussy, whose Quartet opened the way to a new aesthetic. Ten years later Ravel was to crystallise its style, as if to follow Debussy’s conception through to its conclusion. Between these two jewels of the French repertoire, the First Quartet of Saint-Saëns is revealed as a tremendously appealing work, brimming with charm, humour, and elegance.