Search - Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Quartetto Italiano :: Debussy & Ravel: String Quartets

Stunning

JP Nightingale | 04/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the opening bars of Debussy's thrilling string quartet, it's clear this is a special date that fully deserves its inclusion in the Phillips Great Recordings series. The music is so immediate, so exciting and perpetually inventive, the playing so united and muscular, it really nudges perfection.



This goes equally for the Ravel quartet, routinely coupled with Debussy. It's no real surprise the two works are often placed side by side - Debussy implored Ravel "by the Gods of music not to change a thing" to his quartet, so the mutual admiration was certainly there! Despite surface similarities, however, the two are really very distinct works and Quartetto Italiano, here at their absolute peak, brings each to luminous life.



The close mikes, while perhaps a bit annoying for some, to these ears brings a sense of intimate warmth and immediacy.



Very highly recommended."