Search - Maggini Quartet :: Walton: Piano Quartet / String Quartet

Wonderful Walton

Santiago Barcon | Mexico city | 03/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Naxos record, with excellent recording, show perfectly Walton's capabilities with sting quartets and piano quartets.The quartets normally show the heart of the composer, and here is no exception. Masterful pieces with heart, full of emotion and force. Maggini quartet rises to the task, and Mr. Donohoe is an skillful pianist that knows when it is neede, and when is not.Highly recommended"

More masterly performances from the Magginis

G.D. | Norway | 04/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Looking through the Naxos catalogue, one realizes that even if the price is not taken into consideration, it contains a huge number of really competitive chamber releases. Part of that is, of course, due to the Magginis, and this release of the Walton piano quartet and string quartet is surely one of them. The piano quartet is an early work, with strong influences of earlier composers, in particular Ravel, but also Elgar and Stanford. It is actually a splendid work, finely lyrical, melodically rich and inventive. The string quartet is a mature work, full of the mature Walton touches, with syncopated, lively rhythms, somewhat acerbic wit, lyrical wistfulness and an irresistibly spicy harmonic language, though at times - especially in the finale - coming dangerously close to formulaic, if still enjoyable, note-spinning. It is more famous in its string orchestral guise (the Sonata for strings), and in the end I have to say that it might just be a tad more effective in that version. That is not to say that the string quartet version isn't very effective and rewarding.



The performances are outstanding, however, invigorating and sharply focused with remarkable clarity of texture and rhythmic concentration. The sound quality is excellent as well, and this release can be very strongly recommended."