MusicWeb International One of the most grown-up review sites around 2024
60,000 reviews
... and still writing ...

Search MusicWeb Here Acte Prealable Polish CDs
 

Presto Music CD retailer
 
Founder: Len Mullenger                                    Editor in Chief:John Quinn             

Some items
to consider

new MWI
Current reviews

old MWI
pre-2023 reviews

paid for
advertisements

Acte Prealable Polish recordings

Forgotten Recordings
Forgotten Recordings
All Forgotten Records Reviews

TROUBADISC
Troubadisc Weinberg- TROCD01450

All Troubadisc reviews


FOGHORN Classics

Alexandra-Quartet
Brahms String Quartets

All Foghorn Reviews


All HDTT reviews


Songs to Harp from
the Old and New World


all Nimbus reviews



all tudor reviews


Follow us on Twitter


Editorial Board
MusicWeb International
Founding Editor
   
Rob Barnett
Editor in Chief
John Quinn
Contributing Editor
Ralph Moore
Webmaster
   David Barker
Postmaster
Jonathan Woolf
MusicWeb Founder
   Len Mullenger


Support us financially by purchasing this from

Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
String Quartet in F major, Op. 96, ‘American’ (1893) [25:27]
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11 (1871) [27:54]
Alexander BORODIN (1833-1887)
String Quartet No. 2 in D major (1881) [26:51]
Escher String Quartet: Adam Barnett-Hart (violin); Aaron Boyd (violin); Pierre Lapointe (viola); Brook Speltz (cello)
rec. 2017, Reitstadel, Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Germany
BIS BIS-2280 SACD [81:17]

This is not the first time these three evergreen quartets have appeared together on the same disc, but it is rare. For anyone wanting these works this would seem to be an ideal way to obtain them, especially since you are getting over 80 minutes of wonderful music in state-of-the-art sound. An earlier CD with which I am familiar, containing these quartets, is a DG reissue by the illustrious Emerson Quartet. Although I don’t own that, I was able to sample it to compare with the new one here. Those whose allegiance is to the Emersons may rest easy because there is little to choose between their accounts and those of the Escher String Quartet. That said, the sound on the BIS SACD, which I listened via standard two-channel setup, is something to behold.

In its sheer virtuosity and lustrous sound this new version of Dvořák’s popular “American” Quartet challenges my current favourite by the Czech Škampa Quartet. The eloquent viola at the start of the first movement leaps from the speakers and the very dark cello near the end of the second movement makes a greater impression than I have heard before. With impeccable balances and tuning the Escher String Quartet leave little to be desired in this work. If I still prefer the Škampa by a hair, it is because of its utter naturalness and Czech inflection. It is a mellower account to be sure and is recorded in a more resonant acoustic. The recording by BIS has great presence and transparency, so that you won’t miss any of the finer details in Dvořák’s folkish quartet.

The other two Romantic quartets used to appear more frequently on disc than they seem to nowadays. So, it is fortunate that these melodious works accompany the Dvořák here. Both receive vital, if rather straightforward, performances, with little or no rubato. That’s not to say they are any less expressive and can be viewed as totally unhackneyed. The Tchaikovsky, of course, is most famous for its lyrical slow movement which has appeared by itself in a number of guises. One of my favourites is the cello solo version with orchestral accompaniment in a recording by Mstislav Rostropovich (DG). This Andante cantabile movement by the Escher is deeply felt and gorgeous without any schmaltz. The performance of the rest of the quartet, too, is at a high level of execution. The finale is playful, even ebullient, with a viola melody brought to the fore and the “Haydnesque” joke before the coda timed perfectly.

Borodin’s Second String Quartet, as well as a movement of its predecessor and other works of the composer, was used in the Broadway musical Kismet. Indeed, it is so tuneful, especially the second and third movements, that once heard it is hard to get out of one’s head. The Escher’s cellist introduces the first movement’s main theme beautifully and the second movement is Mendelssohnian in its lightness with its famous second theme heartfelt. The third movement Notturno plays a similar role to that of the Andante in Tchaikovsky’s work. This one is also marked “andante” and should not be dragged out as some accounts are wont to do. It receives a songful performance here, lacking nothing in Romantic ardour. The shimmering strings before the viola begins the passage leading to the final chord are particularly delightful. The finale, which can seem a bit repetitious also receives its due.

As usual BIS has contributed a classy product, its booklet having an attractive cover and informative notes by Philip Borg-Wheeler. With its vivid sound and superb performances, I can heartily recommend this very full CD to all lovers of Romantic chamber music.

Leslie Wright
 



Advertising on
Musicweb


Donate and keep us afloat

 

New Releases

Naxos Classical
All Naxos reviews

Hyperion recordings
All Hyperion reviews

Foghorn recordings
All Foghorn reviews

Troubadisc recordings
All Troubadisc reviews



all Bridge reviews


all cpo reviews

Divine Art recordings
Click to see New Releases
Get 10% off using code musicweb10
All Divine Art reviews


All Eloquence reviews

Lyrita recordings
All Lyrita Reviews

 

Wyastone New Releases
Obtain 10% discount

Subscribe to our free weekly review listing