Customer Reviews

Jerusalem Quartet - Haydn: Quatuor Op. 64 No 5 'L'Alouette' / Quatuor Op. 76 No 2 'Les Quintes' / Quatuor Op. 77 No 1 'Lobkowitz'

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some performances of Haydn can verge on earnest, as if the musicians are getting the notes but missing the spirit. Haydn is rewarding at any pace. But these recordings are extraordinarily sensitive, and as far from plodding as it is possible to go. The music ranges from joyous and spirited to heartbreakingly sensitive and melancholy. Group playing? - It is simply uncanny how much like one great instrument these four young musicians sound together, it's as if they can read each others minds, the timing is supernaturally perfect even when they take the music at a cracking tempo (as they do!). The vivace which concludes op.64 "L'alouette" is at least foot-tapping or head-bobbing (personally I like to dance to it!). I 'whooped' when they played it as an encore at a recent performance here in Melbourne. Sensitivity? The Andante (2nd movement) of op.76 "Les Qunites" is exquisitely poignant and moving. The sound quality on this recording is outstanding. I only wish Jerusalem Quartet would record ALL of Haydn's quartets, until then I will have to satisfy myself with the work of the Quartor Mosaique. I listen to a lot of classical music, love string quartets and this is the first time I have felt moved to write a review here. Simply beautiful! I'd give it six stars if I could.

I saw this quartet in Ann Arbor on April 28 and count it one of the most glorious moments of my life. Mr. Gill in his review has said it perfectly, this music is supernatural; these musicians are sublime. And this CD is wonderfully fine.

As a professional musician I would rate this recording as "world class performance". I've never heard a string quartet with such supurb ensemle, faultless intonation and dynamics and music making of the highest order. WOW!!

I like this disc and I am in broad agreement with the other reviewers here, but I do have my reservations.

The music itself is wonderful, and particularly if you are looking for a sample of Haydn's finest quartets the programme alone is enough to commend this disc strongly. There are three Quartets here: the famous "Lark" (Op. 64 No.5), the "Fifths" (Op. 76 No.2) and the towering masterpiece which is Op.77 No.1. Each is given its own character by the Jerusalem Quartet and they play them very well.

Technically, the playing is excellent, with rock-solid intonation and extremely fine ensemble playing - their sheer accuracy in the scampering finale of The Lark, for example, is remarkable. The Jerusalem Quartet also bring real distinctness to each work with fabulous, soaring beauty in the opening of The Lark and powerful, dark passion in parts of The Fifths. However, I felt at times there was a little something lacking. Haydn's knowing twinkle is never far from his chamber music even in the darker passages and I thought this could have been allowed to shine through a little more. For example, the finale of The Lark is spectacularly quick and quite exciting here but lacked that sense of real exuberant joy which Quatuor Ebene bring to it, and the sheer weight and passion the Jerusalem Quartet give to the dark, driving minuet of The Fifths was really arresting for a while but became a bit much when unrelieved for the whole movement which desperately needed the little leavening of lightness I find in Quatuor Mosaiques' interpretation.

Please don't let me put you off - these things are a matter of taste and there is no doubt that this is a disc of fabulous music, very well played. For me, though, Quatuor Ebene Haydn: Quatuors a Cordes and Quatuor Mosaiques Haydn: String Quartets, Opp. 64, 76, 77 are a better bet and I can only give this disc a somewhat qualified recommendation.