Search - Krettly Quartet :: Faure: Violin Sonata In A; Piano Quartet In C Minor; String Quartet In E Minor

French style is elusive and Fauré's is even more elusive, so this attractive collection of major works performed by outstanding prewar exponents of French music is invaluable. The Thibaud- Cortot Sonata is about as definitive an interpretation as you can get, as is their lovely Berceuse. The Casadesus-Calvet quintet is almost at that level, with sparkling pianism and lean, clearly articulated string playing. It's an elegant reading, with lightfingered playfulness in the scherzo and welcome forward momentum in the final allegro. The late quartet gets a similarly fine performance from the now almost forgotten Krettly Quartet, who explore the work's complex, adventurous harmonies and capture its inward qualities, succeeding where many recent recordings fail. --Dan Davis