Schubert: String Quartets Nos. 13 & 14- Death and the Maiden
The Takács Quartet, after building an enviable catalogue of excellent recordings for Decca, particularly their Beethoven Quartets, now turn to Schubert with peerless results. TheDeath and the MaidenQuartet has had many fine recordings but this one is unparalleled in its impact as the Takács intensify the drama and melancholy that pervade the work. Accents are bold, tempos are mostly brisk without being overly hurried, and heartstrings are tugged by the pathos of the Andante. Pointed phrasing and steady rhythms give the Scherzo its power while the outer movements have a frightening, almost demonic intensity. The earlierRosamundeQuartet is almost on the same extraordinary level. Quibblers may find the opening faster than they prefer, but the Takács still make it sound tenderly nostalgic with a hint of the tragic lurking just beneath the surface. They also project the grimness of the work while aptly softening the demonic energy pervading theirDeath and the Maiden. Even as they differentiate the two quartets, they preserve characteristic Takács traits such as beautiful tone, tonal balances, flawless solos, and rhythmic vitality. Even their loudest fortissimos never turn harsh, thanks in part to Hyperion's uncannily life-like engineering.--Dan Davis