Maggini Quartet - Britten: String Quartets, Vol. 1-2 (1998/1999) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 25: I. Andante sostenuto: Allegro vivo
02. String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 25: II. Allegretto con slancio
03. String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 25: III. Andante calmo
04. String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 25: IV. Molto vivace
05. String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36: I. Allegro calmo senza rigore
06. String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36: II. Vivace
07. String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36: III. Chacony
08. 3 Divertimentos: I. March
09. 3 Divertimentos: II. Waltz
10. 3 Divertimentos: III. Burlesque


01. Simple Symphony, Op. 4: I. Boisterous Bourree
02. Simple Symphony, Op. 4: II. Playful Pizzicato
03. Simple Symphony, Op. 4: III. Sentimental Saraband
04. Simple Symphony, Op. 4: IV. Frolicsome Finale
05. Quartettino: I. Andante
06. Quartettino: II. Poco adagio ma con moto
07. Quartettino: III. Allegro molto vivace
08. Alla marcia: Alla Marcia
09. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94: I. Duets: With Moderate Movement
10. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94: II. Ostinato: Very Fast
11. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94: III. Solo: Very Calm
12. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94: IV. Burlesque: Fast - con fuoco
13. String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94: V. Recitative and Passacaglia (La serenissima)

This second volume of the Maggini Quartet's Britten series amply fulfils the promise of the first. As before, the recording favours blend and immediacy: the leading full-price alternative, recorded at Snape by the Sorrel Quartet for Chandos, has a richer atmosphere and a stronger sense of space, but, as interpretations, the Maggini's versions need fear nothing from the current competition. The major work here is the late Third Quartet, a score whose extreme contrasts of mood and texture, ranging from rapt serenity to explosive bitterness, are the more difficult to make convincing for the extraordinary economy of means which the ailing Britten summoned. The Maggini are hard to beat in the conviction they bring to all aspects of a notably well-focused, technically polished account. Their choice of basic tempos for the tricky outer movements is ideal, and they relish the elements of parody elsewhere without descending into caricature. This disc also provides the only currently available version of the early but radical Quartettino, and the quartet version of the Simple Symphony.

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