Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Leipziger Streichquartett :: Schubert: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 2

This disc, Volume 2 of the series, is best heard backwards. The half-minute fragment doesn't tell us much about anything, being too brief. But the very early Quartet, D. 18, is a touchingly sincere work of the very young Schubert (apparently about age 13). Its ending is extremely awkward, but other parts of the score are surprisingly affecting for such early work. This piece should definitely not be heard after the great masterpiece in A Minor, which makes it seem very trivial by contrast. The Leipzig Quartet's playing of these pieces is very Schubertian--melodically oriented and with plenty of overt drama. --Leslie Gerber