Search - Schubert, Wispelwey, Orpheus Quartet :: Schubert: String Quintet In C Major D 956

About Time!

bonerfly | NY | 02/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I won't bother reviewing Schubert here, because if you are reading this you already know.

Over the years I have accumulated and discarded 7 versions of this Quintet in search of the "ultimate keeper".

I have finally found a mate for the only one I kept- The Raphael Ensemble version.

The Orpheus Quartet has unnacountably been under the radar in "relative" obscurity.

This is one of the finest Quartets I've ever heard.

Rich beautiful (sometimes dark) tone, perfect intonation and great ensemble communication.

They play with a slightly stronger attack than the slightly warmer Raphael Ensemble, but with the same depth of emotion and feeling.

Thus 2 different approaches to the Quintet and both work beautifully.

Also, a major reason I am keeping this is the Sound Quality... SUPERB.. Simply puts them in the same room with you. If you close your eyes, you can imagine yourself at their live recital.

The clarity, the tone, the transparency that allows air between every note, and the front to back depth is amazing.

A close to Demonstration bracket recording as is The Raphael version.

Music being subjective, it's all a matter of personal taste. I like it both ways.

And these 2 have the best recorded sound of all the others I have heard.

Anyway, I am always reading how you need to have more than one interpretation to appreciate all this Quintet has to offer

I agree.

Here's 2 versions with something different to say. Get them and never again wonder if you have THIS best of Schubert. One of these is YOUR keeper.



HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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