Search - Franz Schubert, Jerusalem Quartet :: Schubert: Der Tod und das Mädchen

Schubert: Der Tod und das Mädchen; Quartettsatz in C minor

J. D. Baker | S.F. Bay Area | 08/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First, the plaudits, and they are legion. In June, the Jerusalem Quartet's latest offering was named a "BBC Music Choice," rated 5/5 stars for both performance and sound, and called "as near to perfection as one can possibly find" by BBC Music magazine. Gramophone made the album July's "Editor's Choice" for chamber music, declaring it a "fine, compelling release" that "takes a slower-burn approach, a careful sense of story-telling that has its own deep rewards." The Strad magazine followed suit, naming it "theStrad Selection" for July: "the Jerusalem Quartet reaches a standard that few predecessors have achieved," "renewing old warhorses with skill, vigour and musicality." Diapason magazine has granted it similar praise, awarding it a "Diapason d'or." And Fanfare, in its Sept/Oct review, declares the 'Death' quartet is "simply tremendous playing" and "the opening 'Quartettsatz' is equally superb."



In the teeth of such absurdly universal acclaim you likely care little for my personal opinion, but I can happily report that, after multiple listenings, my enjoyment of the release has been commensurate with the public praise it has garnered. Of the multiple versions of Schubert's 'Death' I own -- including the Takács Quartet's edgy and well-received recent release, compared to which Jerusalem's allegro is slower by four full minutes, followed by an andante brisker by 14 noticeable seconds -- this is, hands down, my favorite and the one I reach for unless engaged in a specific exercise of comparison or recall.



We certainly have no dearth of 'Deaths'; every string quartet I've [n]ever heard of seemingly has recorded this best-known of Schubert's late string masterpieces (or, according to their press packages, soon will). Still, if you are a 'Death' Eater this purchase is a no-brainer; followers of the Jerusalem Quartet will certainly be pleased with this effort as well; and fans of Schubert and chamber music generally, especially those without a good recent recording of either piece (but especially the 'Death') should be close behind.

"

First choice

YIP Alex | 06/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have listened to numerous ( more than a dozen ) different versions of this work, and I am most impressed by this CD. The performance as well as the recording are superb. The drama well presented. No reservations."

Great recording

Will | San Francisco | 04/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I will go broke. I thought I had finished buying chamber music fifteen years ago. After all who could compete with the Italiano, Borodin, Takács, Emerson, and Berg?



Well, it looks like I am not done yet -- not while there are performances like this by the Jerusalem -- to say nothing of the work by other great new(er) quartets: the Mozaiques, the Quatuor Ebéne, the Pavel Haas players, the Belceas, the Pacificas.



This from Grammaphone about this performance:



Another fine, compelling release from the Jerusalem Quartet. Goodness knows, there's enough competiton out there for Deaths and Maidens and I'm still in awe of the intensity of the recent Takács version on Hyperion. But this performance takes a slower-burn approach, a careful sense of story-telling that has its own deep rewards.



-- Gramophone [7/2008]"