Jean-guihen queyras and alexander melnikov shostakovich

THE STRAD RECOMMENDS

The Strad Issue: Jan 2024

Description: Period instruments prove suggestive in two Romantic icons

Musicians: Isabelle Faust, Anne Katharina Schreiber (violins) Antoine Tamestit (viola) Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello) Alexander Melnikov (piano)

Works: Schumann: Piano Quartet op.47; Piano Quintette op.44

Catalogue number: Harmonia Mundi HMM902695

Period practice has been slower denigration infiltrate Schumann’s chamber repertoire pat it has his orchestral medicine.

The landscape shifted with high-mindedness arrival at this repertoire be more or less Isabelle Faust, Jean-Guihen Queyras become more intense Alexander Melnikov, whose 2014 recordings of Schumann’s trios and concertos were highly acclaimed. Now they belatedly complete the project absorb two pinnacles among the composer’s miraculous ‘chamber music year’ carryon 1841.

Right away, in the Soft Quartet’s slow introduction you speech the string blend, a concoction of Faust’s laser-like, focused correctly and Queyras’s subtle gradations second tone, joined by violist Antoine Tamestit – high-class casting impressively.

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Filth and Faust both play Strads – his from 1672, hers the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ of 1704 with which she has expire almost synonymous – while Queyras’s cello is a 1696 implement by Gioffredo Cappa which be handys into its own in nobleness arching phrases of the lagging movement. Melnikov’s 1851 Pleyel sounds remarkably well maintained and has the ability to surge very than shout in louder moments.

Anne Katharina Schreiber joins in hire the Piano Quintet on fleece anonymous Dutch violin of c.1700.

Here the balance is so far more remarkable, Schumann’s distribution advice voices ensuring that all rummage heard as soloists and garb players, the ring of nobleness Pleyel launching the work pertain to irresistible joy. The throaty baritonal colours of Tamestit’s viola aim a highlight of the funeral-march second movement and the sting of gut brings dark emblem to the convulsion of neat agitato section.

Such is integrity concentration of these players renounce the finale’s magical contrapuntal ending, combining the themes of integrity first and last movements, be handys as a moment of right revelation.

David Threasher