Schubert: Complete Quartets, Vol. 5

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Free Music Notes for Schubert: Complete Quartets, Vol. 5

Free Music Review: This Worthwhile Series Continues
Hit: 4 Stars

This disc contains early Schubert--Quartets 2 (1812), 6 (1813) and 11 (1816), all written when he was in his teens; he was born in 1797. Indeed the Second was written before chorister Schubert's voice had changed! They do not sound like echt Schubert--more like Mozart or sometimes even a little like Rossini. Still, they are clever imitations and certainly show us how talented Schubert was as a youngster. And what a hard worker he was.

There is not an awkward moment in any of these pieces, and indeed I can even imagine Mozart or Haydn might have been glad to claim them as their own. I particularly like the sprightly rondo finale of Quartet No. 11, the slow movement of No. 2 (a siciliano), and the courtly minuet of No. 6.

All are played with a passion and musicianly nuance by the Kod?ly Quartet who certainly do NOT sound like they are simply playing through what might have been discounted by some to be apprentice works. Frankly, I am happy to have the first five volumes--plus another containing the Quintet in C--and look forward obtaining the last in the series.

Naxos provides clear and lifelike sound.

Scott Morrison

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