Franck: Piano Quintet in F Minor, FWV 7 - Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8

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Passionate and propulsive, these performances of Franck's Piano Quintet and Violin Sonata have everything going for them but depth. Pianist Philippe Entremont's technique is solid and his commitment to the repertoire cannot be doubted. In the quintet, he takes charge of the ensemble almost as if he were both conductor and soloist in a concerto. In the sonata, he is not merely an accompanist but a full partner in the performance. The Aron Quartett is with Entremont all the way in the quintet, enjoying the emotionalism of the central Lento con molto sentimento as much as the physical release of the closing Allegro non troppo ma con fuoco's final coda. Violinist Dan Zhu has a clean, focused tone with a strong technique and a sweet vibrato, and he turns in a performance of the sonata as well-played as those of many better known violinists.
But then there is the issue of depth. Part of the problem is that Cascavelle's sound lacks bottom: the violins and upper registers of the piano come through loud and clear, but the viola, cello, and lower registers of the piano are far too desiccated to really register. A bigger part of the problem is that Entremont, the Aron Quartett, and Zhu seem to be content to stay on the surface of the music. Where great performances of the quintet can be truly cathartic, this one is merely satisfying, and where great performances of the sonata can be truly thrilling, this one is merely enjoyable. For fans of the musicians, this may be enough. For fans of the music, it may not be.

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