Customer Reviews

Schubert - String Quintet in C / Alban Berg Quartet · Schiff

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

 

 

Many consider Schubert's String Quintet D956 one of the pinnacle masterpieces in the entire chamber repertoire. With its diverse emotional moods, memorable lyrical themes, and dense, rich textures from the added cello, Schubert's only string quintet is clearly a masterpiece. The Austrian Alban Berg quartet gives a plush, poised reading of this great work, worthy of a "Great Performance" accolade. Their style and sound is often described as "polished" which can be clearly heard in this recording or in their wonderful performances of Mozart's final great quartets (4-CD set on Teldec). Their precise, silky and tonally rich playing combined with very good sound quality all make for a strong choice - although the 46 minutes is a bit chinsy for one CD. Other fine performances of this great quintet to consider: the bold reading from the Emerson String Quartet with Rostropovich (DG 3-CD set with the last string quartets) or the live, spirited recording from Pamela Frank and the Marlboro Festival players (Sony).

Whilst a pianist, Schubert's Quintet in C just strikes a chord with me that other music of a solo or orchestral nature simple doesn't. As such I have several recordings of this piece. This was the first one I acquired and from the tentative opening note to the swagger and aplomb of the finale it will draw you in and leave you wishing for more yet realising that more simply isn't humanly possible.

For this recording specifically the first two movements stand out - in spite of the missing repeat in the first. It is not for me to question Schubert's genius but I feel that performances of the first movements of both the Quintet and the D minor Quartet D810 'Death and the Maiden' do not lose anything from the ommission of their exposition repeats and if anything gain a feeling of progression and cohesion (particulary in D810).

There isn't a single phrase or note which feels at all out of place here - such attention to detail for a peace as long and with so many subtley repeated notes is remarkable.

The third and fourth movements whilst not nearly as substantial as the first two are played to perfection. The scherzo has power and an unrivalled intensity of conviction. The proceeding trio is reflective and brooding - the repeated chords leading to the recapitulation are fantastic and never cease to heighten the tension no matter how well I know exactly what is around the corner. The final movement is approached as one critic put it "with just the right balance of swagger and reserve" - although there is one tiny mistake which I only recently picked up at around 2"09 (How's that for pedantry!).

The sound quality is excellent and - as should be the case - won't be a consideration unless you purposely set out to analyse it.

Simply unrivalled.

Not however unchallenged at a very high level and I would also reccommend the Lindsays mid 80's version - unimpeachable sound and marvellous control across the dynamic spectrum: comes packaged with the late quartets; D810 is sublime but that's another story.

Although many American concert-goers and players prefer the Emerson with Rostro, after listening to the Berg, I still prefer it. There is more idiomatic playing, with the right amount of rubato. It just seems "right". If you've played the quintet yourself, you'll really appreciate how they get the Viennese sound just right. They're Viennese after all, they should. The intonation and ensemble is just as good as the Emersons. The omission of the exposition repeat is a minor quibble. Go to a concert and I bet they don't include the repeat. If you want to hear more Schubert, hit the repeat button or listen to "Death and the Maiden".

This is the one to get.

Among all the masterpieces in Schubert's chamber music output, the string quintet might very well be the very pinnacle. And among the many recordings it has received, this one, by the Alban Berg Quartet and Heinrich Schiff, might very well be the best (as far as I know; I have limited knowledge of historical recordings of this work). That the players are up to the technical demands is no surprise, but there is a surface vigor and warmth, and a subtext of smoldering, urgent intensity to this recording the likes of which I cannot quite remember having heard elsewhere. The opening is actually rather coolly played - but it comes across as all the more effective for it. Most noticeable at first hearing is the overall muscularity, effortless flow and vitality of the performance - in particular the Scherzo teems with life and power. The second movement is also particularly magnificent; hypnotic and almost ethereally beautiful with its soaring lines. Only in the finale do I sometimes question the lack of clarity in the phrasings in the bass lines, but overall this movement strikes me as perfectly judged and well neigh perfectly executed. Drawbacks? Well, the performance drops some of the repeats, but I am not going to harp on that - I cannot say I minded much even though I recognize that many people do. The sound is lifelike and warm with just the slightest hint of giving excessive prominence to the bass. Strongly recommended.

This is by no means a bad performance, and I do not intend it as a bad review. The 3 1/2 stars is a relative rating, taking into consideration the other excellent recordings the Berg Quartett has produced. Judged on its own merits, this would be in the top ten versions of the Schubert Quintet I have heard.

The problem is that I have been spoiled by the Bergs' top-notch recordings of the Beethoven Quartets. I have also heard live performances of the Schubert Quintet which far exceed the level of playing heard on this CD. I guess I came to this CD with expectations that were too high, but I cannot help but be influenced by the Berg Quartett's high standards of musicianship, and this recording left me feeling somewhat disappointed. Again, this is not a bad performance, but I would recommend the Emerson Quartet's version before I would recommend this one.