Franz Schubert: String Quartet No. 15, String Trios D. 471 & D. 581

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Programming Franz Schubert's String Quartet No. 15 in G major, D. 887, with the String Trio in B flat major, D. 581, and the single-movement String Trio in B flat major, D. 471, is a little like an absurd three-way brawl between a heavyweight boxer, a welterweight, and a featherweight; after the pummeling that the first delivers, the others really stand little chance of leaving much of an impact. Schubert's final quartet is on the level of the profound String Quintet in C major and the Symphony No. 9 in C major, "The Great," in magnificent ambition and soulful expression, and this penetrating performance by the Prazák Quartet fully conveys that kind of greatness in its sustained intensity, heartfelt lyricism, and compelling, long-range vision. Because this rendition is so emotionally overwhelming, the fine performances of the two string trios by the Beethoven String Trio really deserve a separate hearing, and should not be heard immediately after the string quartet. In 1816 and 1817, when he composed these smaller works, Schubert was certainly accomplishing impressive things, but they must be regarded as light Classical studies in comparison with the monumentally Romantic D. 887, composed in 1826, which reveals Schubert's fully realized genius, insatiable longing, and struggles with mortality. But whether the string quartet and the string trios are heard together or separately, the DSD recording and multichannel format of this hybrid SACD ensure that the listening experience will be completely satisfying, and newcomers and audiophiles alike will be impressed by the depth, detail, and brilliance of this extraordinary package.
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