Customer Reviews

Schubert: The Last Four Quartets

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Quartetto Italiano (Le Quartet Italien) have produced a bunch of excellent albums through the years, but among others this one stands out as a crucial release. This is one of the most celebrated recordings of Schubert's late quartets and for some good reasons. Here they introduce one of the finest 'Death and the Maiden' on disc. Although the competition is huge, it remains a refined and enlivened performance that has special merits. Of course, vintage versions by the Busch Quartet and also by the Juilliard String Quartet are steady references the Quartetto will be forgiven for not completely achieving. The Busch Quartet, especially, is still unsurpassed in this domain. The Quartetto's dazzling Quartet in G is equally splendid, as does the Quartettsatz. The music has guts with no compromise on harmonic detail and elegance. The overall clarity of sound and delineation of instruments are striking. Comparatively, the Brandis Quartet -with a particularly excellent 'Rosamunde'- suffers a bit from a slightly harsh top end (violin) that contrasts with the warmer and more disciplined string tone present on the Quartetto Italiano's recording. The Brandis is, sonics aside, a very good set of the quartets even so it can't match the Quartetto in most areas (except, perhaps, for the shimmering 'Rosamunde'). There are plenty of superb recordings of those works, especially the 'Maiden', including (among the names to watch): The Auryn Quartet, Verdi Quartet, Amadeus Quartet, Budapest Quartet, Melos Quartet, Leipzig String Quartet, Alban Berg Quartet, Aria Quartet, Petersen Quartet, Guarneri String Quartet, as well as the famous Emerson Quartet. You can't go wrong with any of them. The Quartetto Italiano belongs to this category, and sometimes it can and effectively does even surpass one or another in a few minor areas. A great package, imbued with a nice touch of quality a la Philips Classics.

The great composer Franz Schubert is often talked about as a "late bloomer," referring to how his last compositions emerged with great maturity, emotional complexity and consumate skill. These last four quartets are part of this final, masterful phase of Schubert's short life as a composer and should be in every chamber-music collector's shelf.

Among the finest performances of these great quartets stands the recordings here from the legendary Quartetto Italiano - one of the top quartets in the 60's and 70's. The Quartetto Italiano really have a nack for penetrating the depths of such emotive works as #14 or #15 and bring out the intended drama and pathos within.

Their powerful reading of the great, last quartet in G (#15) is especially noted by many major reviewers as one of the finest recordings of this complex masterpiece. The first movement in particular is epic in scale (lasting some 25 minutes) and exudes a powerful, anguished emotional mood which the Italianos bring out with tremedous depth and passion that can send chills down your spine. In all, their playing is of the highest caliber and just sounds superb in terms of synchonicity, intonation and phrasing. Their unison within cresendos is impeccable as was their ability to create sonorities on a "symphonic scale."

However, I found one quirky sonic flaw throughout the entire "Death and the Maiden" and other quartets when listening with headphones: there was an intermittent and jarring "booming" sound that is quite distracting. It is probably not be an issue without headphones, but be forewarned nevertheless. Overall, the sound quality is very good but not perfect given the transfer to CD from the 1960's analog tapes. There is not quite the depth and realism of more modern recordings in general, but this should not discourage purchase for most.

Other quartets to consider for these works are the Guarnari Quartet and, in some works, the Emersons - although the Emerson's style is more "direct" and less "old world graceful" like the Alban Berg's. The Quatuor Mosaiques also recorded a powerful reading of the Rosamunde quartet and others that ranks with the best along with an award-winning recording from the Tacaks Quartet.

All-in-all, I would say the Italianos is one of the finer SETS of Schubert's greatest (last) quartets - although some individual quartets may be better represented by other ensembles. When I hear music of this stature, it reminds me how unfortunate it was for Schubert that his enormous talent and output was not much recognized nor greatly valued in his day outside his close circles. And these last quartets are only a small part of that heritage.

The Quartteto Italiano is easily my favorite string quartet. I have owned and enjoyed their complete Mozart and Beethoven sets of string quartets for many years. I was particularly pleased to find this two-disc set in the Philips Duo series of mid-price cds that includes Franz Schubert's last four quartets, because it has confirmed what I suspected even before I heard the recordings: the Italians are premier interpreters of that master composer's work as well! For me, the dramatic intensity they display in the "Death & the Maiden" is unsurpased; this is my favorite performance of the No. 14 quartet in D-minor. They are exceptional in the quartets Nos. 12,13 & 15 as well. The Philips sound is fine throughout, and at such an attractive price, this set is a real bargain. A must have for those who admire the Italian Quartet, as well as those who love the music of Schubert. Highly recommended!

How can people give this less than 4 stars!? The performance by the Quartetto Italiano is great. Very confident and powerful playing. If you like "in your face" recordings you will like this. Very close miked and "hot" sound. Clearly played and wonderfully recorded. There may be better individual recordings, but as a set of four this is a stone cold bargain. I would highly recommend this cd.

I had not come across the Quartetto Italiano before which is not so surprising as these recordings were made 30 - 40 years ago. However it is a great delight to find them as their playing delightfully taut and energetic. Maybe the tempo is a little slower than expected in the Andante of the G major quartet but it still brings out some wonderful highlights.
It would be surprising to find a btter recording anywhere.
Phil Rowe

Apart from the sound problems (intermittent thumping) inherent in the master tape of No. 14 "Death and the Maiden", for me there is a problem with the overall approach of this distinguished quartet. Their tempi are slow, yet they use little rubato; their playing is impeccably tuned but, to quote Browning, "a common greyness silvers everything" and sent me scuttling back to performances by quartets such as the Juilliard, who really feel the music and bring it alive in a manner quite foreign to the Italians. The last thing Schubert, that most emotional and mercurial of composers, needs, is a measured approach to his glorious music; it is not meant to be played like Mozart but in a truly Romantic style: febrile, obsessive passages alternating with achingly poignant melodies.

Given that some other reviewers clearly hear only perfection in these performances and that their reviews have attracted many supportive votes, I suggest that you listen before you buy and decide how you like your Schubert, especially, as, if you look carefully, you will find that several other reviewers, like me, sound a note of caution. I don't like their measured, understated manner at all, and will always need more verve, urgency and commitment than these cool accounts provide. (Incidentally, I have exactly the same problem with their Beethoven.)

Like many authors of 5-star reviews on this page, I am a big fan of Quartetto Italiano and try to grab their CDs where I can. However, this compilation of their Schubert recordings made for the Philips label in 1965-1977 is marred by idiosyncratic interpretations of Schubert's scores. The positive moment is that listeners can enjoy the lush string tone and virtuosity of Quartetto Italiano in a descent stereo sound. But in two works recorded by Quartetto Italiano earlier - the `Rosamunde' Quartet in A minor, D.804 (CD 1, tracks 5-8) and the `Quartettsatz' in C minor, D.703' (CD 2, track 5) - they lose a comparison to their own mono versions String Quartets in all aspects, except for better studio sound: the early versions are winners - they are warm and natural, while here the performers are obviosly trying to make the music seem even more poignant by inserting micropauses, underholding the notes etc.

The main failure in this compilation is Schubert's last quartet, (No. 15) in G major, D.887 (CD 2, tracks 1-4). Incidentally, this is one of last recordings of Quartetto Italiano, made in 7/1977. They soften the dramatic first movement of the G major quartet and consistently drag fierce transitions from major to minor episodes. As a result, the movement that should take ca. 14-16 minutes is blown up to absolutely insane [22'58]. In the finale, Allegro assai, Quarttetto Italiano voluntarily split the main 6/8 subject into two parts by making a tiny pause in between: true, Schubert asks for a brisk dynamic contrast (from fz to p) in the same bar, but he still wants one subject, not two, and insists on dramatic development, not monotonous repetition. Instead of a hectic ride the Quartetto Italiano invite you for a lulling walk. Try the great performance of the Busch quartet Schubert: String Quartets 14 "Death and the Maiden" & 15 / Busch String Quartet to learn how this powerful this Schubert score can (and should) sound. I understand that different interpretations are possible but this experiment does not convince me. There is however one episode where the Quartetto Italiano is absolutely gorgeous - the trio of the Scherzo (CD 2, track 3): with the return of the Scherzo the magic disappears, at least for me.

The approach of Quartetto Italiano to the D minor Quartet D.810, the `Death and the Maiden' (rec. 1965) is more conventional what the tempo regards. But this is not the most distinctive performance either - try the Juilliard quartet Juilliard String Quartet Plays Beethoven, Schubert, the Emerson Quartet Franz Schubert: String Quartets D 804 "Rosamunde", D 810 "Death and the Maiden", D 887, D 703 and String Quintet D 956, and especially, the Hungarian Quartet Schubert: String Quartets 13 - 15 & String Quintet; Hungarian Quartet. The Bush quartet and the Konzerthaus quartet Schubert: Complete String Quartets; Vienna Konzerthaus Quartet are really good too but their sound is not for everybody.

Recommended: for chamber music geeks who enjoy comparing different interpretations.

Not recommended: as your only version of Schubert's late quartets or as an introduction to Schubert's chamber music.

I am surprised that Alan Lekan ("Legendary Italians" 5/31/05) is the only reviewer to comment on the "booming" or thumping sound that appears throughout quartet number 14 regardless of the quality of playback equipment. Although the performances are outstanding Philips should never have released this recording, or at least not without a warning. Recommended purchase only to those who have other versions of #14.

Previously, I didn't consider Schubert a great string quartet composer, but these performances have changed my mind. These string quartets are full of subtleties. Quartetto Italiano brings all the the subtleties to the surface in perfect balance. Really, just amazing.

One of my favourite discs!
The Italian Quartet gives a wonderful reading of Schubert,
Dramatic Flowing Music!
The last Two Quartets: No. 14 "Death and the Maiden" and No. 15
Are Pure works of art!
But, actually, in the case of Schubert, it is hard to label
some works over others...
Most of his Music is Plain Pure Masterpieces!