An Absolutely Wonderful Disc...
Sébastien Melmoth | Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS | 01/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
This is a very wonderful disc, not only as Schoenberg's music alone, but as art-music ("classical music") of any kind.
Schoenberg's D major string quartet of 1897 is very fine music. It's very Brahmsian, with accents of Dvorak, yet wholly original and echt-Viennese. It entirely deserves to be better known and broadcast on FM radio, etc.
Schoenberg's d minor quartet--his offical No. 1--is a great piece full of fine music. It begins where late Beethoven left off with his late great quartets. The precedent of Lizst's b minor sonata in one "portmanteau" movement was not lost on Schoenberg.
This is a great disc: the performances are outstanding; the recorded sound, excellent."