Mozart: Piano Quartets

Chronique

Founded in 1964 and as well known for recordings of contemporary music as for recordings of standard repertoire, the Nash Ensemble here adds another superb disc to its ample discography with these 2005 and 2006 recordings of Mozart's piano quartets. With sweet-toned string players -- violinist Marianne Thorsen, violist Lawrence Power, and cellist Paul Watkins -- plus suave pianist Ian Brown forming a smooth and sophisticated ensemble, the Nash leans more toward the tender and warmhearted Mozart then toward the bright and clear-eyed Mozart. Still, the playing is brilliant, the balances are graceful, and the interpretations are persuasive, so in the end, the performance is entirely entertaining and sometimes, as in the G minor Quartet's opening Allegro and the E flat major Quartet's central Larghetto, even quite moving. While old-time listeners may already have one or more favorite recordings of these standard chamber ensemble repertoire works -- there are the classic Beaux Arts Trio recordings and the legendary George Szell/Budapest recording of the G minor among many, many others -- anyone who already knows the works will surely enjoy this -- and anyone who doesn't already know the works could surely come to enjoy them through the Nash's performances. ASV's digital sound is close but cool and full but detailed.
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