Diapason d'Or de l'année 1990. Alfred Schnittke's BIS-CD-467 features three of his string quartets performed by the Tale Quartet. The album includes the String Quartet No. 1, first debuted in Leningrad in 1967, which breaks from traditional form, emphasizing a quasi-improvisational style through its three interconnected movements: Sonata, Canon, and Cadenza. The String Quartet No. 2 from 1980 mourns filmmaker Larissa Shepitko, expressing grief through four varied movements. The third quartet, composed in 1983, introduces traditional elements with a modern twist, starting with quotations from classical works and creating dramatic climaxes with innovative playing techniques. This collection showcases Schnittke's unique style of integrating traditional musical elements into a contemporary language, making it a significant addition to modern classical music.