Rating: 5/5
Review:
Very good Haydn
This is a fine disc of Haydn. Any quartet these days faces the challenge of
matching some terrific interpretations of Haydn by truly great quartets like
Quatuor Mosaiques, The Lindsays and others, but the Goldmund Quartet stand up
very well beside them.
My sole (minor) quibble with this disc is the
programming. I understand the almost "first
to last" idea, but I have to say that although Op.1, No.1 is charming in
its way, it isn't something I'd look to for repeated listening. However, the other two quartets here are
excellent.
The Goldmunds are technically excellent and they plainly get
Haydn. They bring out his humorous
twinkle where appropriate, they understand that he often said serious things in
a witty way and they also find the real depth in the music. I really started to sit up and take notice of
this disc when I got to the largo of Op.33 No.5, which is quite lovely; the
quartet play with a beautiful, unfussy simplicity and balance, allowing the
music to speak for itself. Their
phrasing is exemplary, they don't overburden the music with vibrato or
overblown look-how-strongly-we're-feeling-this gestures and the result is a
limpid beauty with genuine power and depth.
Other movements have a similarly appropriate touch, and the towering
masterpiece which is Op.77 No.1 is done full justice.
I didn't know what to expect, but I was very impressed
indeed with this disc and I will be looking out for more recordings by the
Goldmund Quartet. I can recommend this
very warmly.
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