Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Alban Berg Quartet :: Schubert: String Quartets Nos. 10 & 14

Great live Schubert performances

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 09/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once they became famous, the ABQ got into the habit of making most of their recordings live from Vienna, and the results are almost without exception more spontaneous and exciting than their studio work. This Death and the Maiden from 1994, paired with Qt. #10 from 1997, immediately goes to the head of the class. It's intense, lyrical, and dramatic. As usual, the ABQ plays with incredible precision and maintains their beautiful blended tone under the most extreme circumstances. I like the apealingly soft and lyrical aproach of the Tokyo Qt. in Schubert, but when all is said and done, nothing holds a candle to the ABQ at their most inspired.



Note: EMI has issued the Death and the Maiden paired with the Rosamunde Qt. or as part of a box set of late Schubert, so shop around for the pairing and price you like."