Great Performance, Great Value
Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 01/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The coupling of Debussy's and Ravel's string quartets is inevitable -- the two composers were contemporaries, they each composed only one string quartet, which happened to sound similar, and the length of the works perfectly accommodates the time limitations of both LPs and now CDs. In fact, three of the world's most popular and critically acclaimed string quartets -- Emerson, Juilliard and Tokyo -- have all made classic albums of this coupling. What led me to choose this CD over the other two was simple -- price. I knew I'd be getting a memorable, if not perfect, performance with any of the three offerings. (In fact, the Juilliard performance advertises itself as one of the 100 greatest classical performances of all-time.) But with this CD available at less than half the cost of the other two, it was a no-brainer for me. Throw in a gorgeous performance of the rarely recorded Faure Piano Trio (performed by Andre Previn, Feri Roth and Joseph Schuster), and this "Sony Essential Classic" lives up to its title."
Energetic and sublime performances
Alan Lekan | Boulder, CO | 02/22/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Curiously enough, the great 19th-century French composers (Debussy, Faure, Franck, Chausson, Ravel) only composed one string quartet each. But, what fabulous works they are! The Tokyo String Quartet's performance of the Ravel and Debussy quartet are definately above-average and fully satisfying for their passionate energy, nuance of sonorities and sublimity. The second movement of the Ravel is quite famous for its uniquely rhythmic pizzacato which the Tokyo members play most energetically. Yet, in the very next movement, they bring a tremendous etherealness and delicate textures to the music. The presto final movement brims with power and passion in the Tokyo Quartet's hands. Ditto that for the Debussy work which is yet another landmark Debussy composition for its equisite subtleness. The third movement is one of those Debussy dreamy journeys into never-never land that the Tokyo Quartet play most delectably. They are particular skilled at building the drama within each movement with a vast range of colors and expressiveness.
The Faure Piano Trio is a late work by this gentile composer and is a most varied and magnificant composition that is so Faure. However, this recording suffers a bit from an inferior recorded sound that lacks color and complex timbres. You can hear the change in sound from the Ravel piece to the Faure trio. The piano sounds somewhat 'tinny' as well. The string playing is very compentant but not masterful by any means. For this Faure trio, to be prefered for both sound quality and finnesse of playing are the gorgeous recordings from the Florestan Trio (Hyperion) and Gil Shaham with Brinton Smith and Akira Eguchi (Vanguard Classics). But, if you have not heard these others Faure recordings, then this Sony recording from the Roth Trio should do just fine as the composition is so magnificant. All together, these three 'French Romantic' works are some of the creme of the era and make this a most desirable disc. 5 stars for the Debussy and Ravel but 4 stars for the Faure.
One final tidbit: The Tokyo String Quartet is notable for playing the famed "Paganini Set" of four Stradivarius instruments which is the only such complete set of two violins, viola and cello by the great Antonio Stradivari in existance. Unfortunately, this recording does not utilize these instruments as they acquired the use of the Paganini set around 1995. But, their newer recordings are played on these magnificant instruments for those who are passionate about such rare instruments."
Best Faure Trio!
Captain Classical | Texas | 04/23/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this CD for the Faure Trio and am very happy I did. It is simply one of the best performances I've ever heard in capturing so much of the world of late-Faure. Its a work which is contemporaneous with the great op. 121 string quartet yet which, to my ears, has never sounded as profound. The cello part with Joseph Schuster playing could not be played more beautifully. Feri Roth and Andre Previn also play with tenderness and passion. Buy this one!!!
"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1