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Site review by Polly Nomial June 17, 2008
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Performance: Sonics (MC): |
This, the third volume of the Mandelring's exploration of Schubert's chamber music, contains the third and last of Schubert's "great" quartets (although it does not derive the slow movement from another work, which is why it has no "name").
As with the other volumes, the playing is exceptional in the refinement with which the music played yet still retaining a highly impassioned spirit. Too often one is forced to make a choice between technical perfection (and boredom) or highly interesting performances (but with "strained" tuning) - not here! Choosing sensible tempi, all movements are allowed to expand in a lyrical, dramatic manner that transports the listener on an emotional roller-coaster. Employing all repeats (in common with the earlier volumes) this makes the first movement in particular gargantuan in length; with playing of this standard of musicality, this is a cause for celebration - truly a case of "heavenly length" here. Due to the similarity of textures, it can only be hoped that the Mandelring players will commit to disc an account of the String Quintet before too long. Again, casting ones mind over concert performances and great recordings of the past, the name that pops into the mind is the Busch Quartet. The Mandelring players are not dominated by their leader though and this more balanced approach makes the music much more human in feel; nor are there the frequent rhythmic instabilities (other than those specified by Schubert) that blight many older quartets preserved in their interpretation. Wonderful stuff!
The very early quartet D173 is Schubert's 9th acknowledged work in this medium. As many of his juvenilia, this looks back to the earlier days of quartet writing. Indeed, the first movement is a quasi-concerto for the first violin and very well played it is too by Sebastian Schmidt; his intonation is impeccable - not many soloists manage similar passage work as well. The rest of the quartet is less memorable but is still a very satisfying listen in such capable hands.
Like their other Schubert recordings, Audite manages to capture the Mandelring's sound to absolute perfection.
Highly recommended.
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Copyright © 2008 John Broggio and SA-CD.net
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Review by andrewb August 7, 2007 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics (MC): |
The fascinating and long first movement allegro of this, Schubert’s last string quartet, was probably the only part to be performed in his lifetime, and then only at a private concert. The first known public performance of the entire quartet is not thought to have taken place until more than twenty years after his tragically early demise.
The Mandelring Quartet produce a sophisticated and beautiful reading that constantly absorbs one thoughts. In the opening movement when the main theme, with its achingly heartfelt opening, is played on violin and then later repeated on first cello and then viola, the twists, turn and repeats are presented with a remarkable clarity. Throughout it is an exceptional performance; it has fine articulation but this is coupled with a natural and warm sound that allows one to luxuriate in the magical interchanges as both the first and second movements unfold. The dance like closing movements give perhaps less opportunity for display of the musical construction but each one is rendered with its own seductive quality.
This highly cultured and civilised account by the Mandelring’s might be described as typically Viennese, for it eschews the extremes that other quartets often adopt and exhibits instead a warm and sophisticated quality leading to a powerful and cumulative emotional intensity; but never such that it will unbalance the musical structure. With this performance I have found, particularly in the first and second movements, new insight and understanding at almost every turn. Like volume 2 of this series, the ensemble of the Mandelring Quartet is astonishing.
The very much simpler G minor quartet (D173) was written 11 years earlier in 1815, when Schubert was only just 18; inevitably it is light compared to the G major and seems almost insignificant when placed on the same disc, all the same it is a pleasant piece and given a good reading here.
On my review of Volume 2 of this Schubert series I said that the sound was disappointing, perhaps I was being unduly harsh; both Volume 1 and 2 have a very similar sound and, provided one gets the playback level right, the sound is very fine but they do fall a little short of the quality of the sound on their Shostakovich discs to date.
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