Schubert: The Late String Quartets
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CD Details
Composer: Franz SchubertPerformer: Emerson String Quartet
Performer: Mstislav Rostropovich
Edition: Music CD
Format: Box set
CD Release Date: 2004-06-15
Music Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- String Quartet No.13 in A minor, D.804 - "Rosamunde" - 1. Allegro ma non troppo
- String Quartet No.13 in A minor, D.804 - "Rosamunde" - 2. Andante
- String Quartet No.13 in A minor, D.804 - "Rosamunde" - 3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
- String Quartet No.13 in A minor, D.804 - "Rosamunde" - 4. Allegro moderato
- String Quartet No.14 in D minor, D.810 -"Death and the Maiden" - 1. Allegro
- String Quartet No.14 in D minor, D.810 -"Death and the Maiden" - 2. Andante con moto
- String Quartet No.14 in D minor, D.810 -"Death and the Maiden" - 3. Scherzo (Allegro molto)
- String Quartet No.14 in D minor, D.810 -"Death and the Maiden" - 4. Presto
- String Quartet No.15 in G, D.887 - 1. Allegro molto moderato
- String Quartet No.15 in G, D.887 - 2. Andante un poco mosso
- String Quartet No.15 in G, D.887 - 3. Scherzo (Allegro vivace)
- String Quartet No.15 in G, D.887 - 4. Allegro assai
- String Quartet No.12 in C minor, D.703 - "Quartettsatz" - Allegro assai
- String Quartet No.12 in C minor, D.703 - "Quartettsatz" - Andante - Allegro assai
- String Quintet in C, D.956 - 1. Allegro ma non troppo
- String Quintet in C, D.956 - 2. Adagio
- String Quintet in C, D.956 - 3. Scherzo (Presto) - Trio (Andante sostenuto)
- String Quintet in C, D.956 - 4. Allegretto
Music reviews of Schubert: The Late String Quartets
Music Review: Very mixed set
Rating: 3 Stars
This Emerson 3-CD set is a mixed experience. I think the other reviewers are exaggerating its quality but about 1/3 of it is very good.
If you are unfamiliar with the Schubert quartets and quintets, you are in for an unforgettable experience. For me, this is some of the most beautiful and moving music ever written. Schubert was (rightly) convinced he would die soon when he composed these works and you can tell he poured his heart and his unimaginable talent into writing them. The recordings by the Melos and Takacs quartets are usually recommended for this repertory. The Emerson set doesn't change that..
Let me start with the good. The Emerson quartet combines with superstar Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich in a committed, very musical performance of the String Quintet in C major. The sound quality is notably better than elsewhere on this set, although it is still only OK, and the performance shows passion and sensitivity. I also found the recording of the incomplete Quartet no. 12 in c-minor (the "quartett-satz" with an unfinished second movement thrown in - a nice find) to be very interesting - the Emersons take it much faster than I am accustomed to - and convincing.
Then there's the rest of the set. I am a fan of the Emersons and have enjoyed them live and on CD for many years but the Schubert quartets 13, 14 and 15 found here aren't distinguished in any way. In general, there is a lack of intensity and musicality. This is especially notable in the third movements of all three works. For example, the Menuetto of the "Rosamunde" quartet no. 13 in a minor is listless and doesn't dance. The whole of the amazing 15th quartet in C major seems detached. The finale of the 14th quartet, the "Death and the Maiden", is frankly boring.
But even if the Emerson quartet had come into the studio and delivered strong performances of these three full quartets, I'd have difficulty with this set as the sonics are quintessential examples of bad 1980s digital, with overpronounced treble, a fair amount of haze and scratchiness. The Quintet is better, as I mentioned, although only satisfactory. You hear audiophiles complain about Deutsche Gramophon engineering pretty frequently and this set of recordings is a case in point.
So my suggestion is that you get the very fine performance of the Quintet as a separate CD and avoid the other two discs entirely, opting for the alternatives I mentioned earlier.
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