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New recordings of Schubert's quintet are almost a commonplace these days which, considering the extraordinary individuality and beauty of the music, is not surprising. Writing about the Fitzwilliam/Decca version I said that, good though it was, I was still inclined to put the Amadeus/DG version at the top. I doubt if I would do so still; the playing on this new recording is as fine, and the quality of the sound, in spite of qualifications mentioned below, is just about the best I can remember. Its remarkable immediacy coupled with unusually vigorous playing give the main section of the Scherzo an almost overpowering effect, and I was quite relieved (as well as a little surprised) that the second repeat was not made. The repeat in the first movement is not made either, but I would not dream of complaining about this; there is no other satisfactory way of getting the first two movements on to one side. The long opening one is beautifully done and I liked, if only for a change, to hear the famous tune for the two cellos played rather coolly, without sentimentality; as also to hear the secondmovement without the usual extreme changes of tempo between the three sections. The music floats effortlessly in the outside sections, and the effect is mesmeric. In the finale the players find just the right combination of understatement and swagger. The second cellist's occasional triplet quavers in this movement are not always quite clear, and all through there sometimes seemed just a shade to much of him in the balance. Nevertheless, the sound as a whole is excitingly real; this is a record I can safely recommend. |
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