These are by any measure two ambitious romantic era works. Ambition is one thing of course consummation another.

While the notes make much of Fuchs's status as a Brahms acolyte in fact the spirited music of the First Quartet is more likely to remind the listener of Beethoven in the Archduke or Ghost trios or Spring Sonata. A sleepy Brahmsian aplomb shines out in quiet spoken wisdom from the Adagio of the First Quartet. The Second Quartet is haunted and a shade nostalgically affectionate. It is reminiscent a little of the Fauré Piano Quartets. Certainly the atmosphere of this 1904 work differs markedly from its companion. After a lively scherzo comes a surgingly high-romantic allegro comodo. Fuchs, who taught Wolf, Mahler, Zemlinsky, Sibelius, Schmidt, Schreker, Korngold and Bittner, was not short of melodic invention either and it is usually of fine quality. His style and place in musical history is comparable with that of Stanford.

I fervently hope that there will be more Fuchs discs from this source. I happily recommend this disc very strongly. It will appeal to those with a passion for vintage romantically yearning classical era music. Triendl and Adorjans do full justice to this confidently expressive music.

 

Rob Barnett

 

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