Search - Belcea Quartet, Corina Belcea :: Brahms: String Quartet Op. 51 No. 1 in C minor; String Quintet No. 2 Op. 111 in G Major

Exceptional readings for this unusual pairing

Discophage | France | 08/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Belcea Quartet is a young and upcoming British string quartet, and this CD proves that their growing reputation is not just hype, as what they give us here are magnificent readings of these two works, not usually paired on record.



Though a relatively underrated work, Brahms' second string quintet is one of the composer's most glorious compositions, of symphonic grandeur and arch-bent lyricism, replete with glorious melodies. Here joined by Thomas Kakuska, the violist of the famed Alban Berg Quartet, the Belcea Quartet has all the required power, richness of texture, homogenous ensemble and perfect pitch. Their first movement, "Allegro no troppo, ma con brio", taken at a rather spacious tempo but full of vigour, has breathtaking intensity. Their adagio does not linger but its lyricism is all the more harrowing as it is not heart-on-sleeve nor lachrymose, and the last pages have a dramatic power seldom heard since the recording by the Amadeus Quartet in the mid-60s. In the 3rd movement ("poco Allegretto"), they do not do the mistake, often encountered with others (as the Budapest Quartet on Sony, the Ludwig Quartet on Naxos, Isaac Stern and partners on Sony among others) of adopting a sluggish and wailing tempo that would turn the movement into a second adagio; on the contrary, theirs is fast and agitated, which doesn't preclude charm in the middle section. Their finale has wonderful gusto. This is a reading equal to the best, which include, to mention only those that have recorded only the 2nd quintet, the Alban Berg Quartet on EMI (coupled with the clarinet quintet in a not so good reading with Sabine Meyer) and the Melos Quartet with Gérard Caussé on Harmonia Mundi (paired with a good reading of the clarinet quintet with Michel Portal).



The same qualities are at play in the first string quartet: symphonic power and high-strung drama in the two outer movements (both written "Allegro), arch-bent lyricism in the 2nd movement "Romanze-poco Adagio" as well as in the 3rd movement "Allegretto molto moderato e comodo", magnificently sustained by the viola's profound chant and a fleeting tempo that again avoids turning the movement it into a second adagio.



This is an indispensable addition to any serious Brahms discography, and makes one hope that the Belceas will record Brahms' remaining string quartets, quintets and sextets.

"

Great Performance

Nick | Athens, Greece | 11/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Brahms has written some wonderful melodies. Both works on this disk feature such melodies. Brahms has given many fine specimens of chamber music, but left us with only three String Quartets. This is probably because of very high expectations about his own music, leading him to discard twenty string quartets before publishing his first two, one of which is on this disk. The String Quintet comes roughly 15 years later but the music is equally thrilling, if of a different style.



About the performance.

Belcea Quartet are a rising star in the UK and worldwide. Every time I listened to them live, it was a fantastic experience. Their recordings have been consistently highly rated, including those of Schubert and Ravel, Debussy. I can't find any flaw in their performance in this Brahms cd and I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to this disk repeatedly. I am not very fond of applying adjectives to performances, but I will say that it is a fine one.



Belcea Quartet are joined by Thomas Kakuska of the Alban Berg Quartet, who plays the 2nd viola in the String Quintet.



If you're just looking around, consider this. It is a buy you're not likely to regret.

If you are either a chamber music lover either a Brahms fan this comes highly recommended.



(Since this is 2006, check out their Mozart disk as well.)"