Brahms: Piano Quintet in F Minor & Variations on a Theme by Handel

Album review

The Orford String Quartet, considered a national treasure in its native Canada, is regrettably not always given its due recognition and attention in the United States. Apart from a magnificent cycle of the complete Beethoven string quartetsand a selection of the Mozart quartets, the group's discography is somewhat limited, so discovering this recording of Brahms' Piano Quintet is quite exciting. Coupled with pianist Gloria Saarinen, the quartet delivers a stunning, energetic performance of one of the greatest works of piano chamber music. One of the possible detractors of the ensemble is the first violinist's sometimes piercing, bright sound. This sound works especially well, however, in the dark, thick texture heard in the Brahms. The other string voices are equally powerful throughout the performance, yielding an enjoyable balance. Saarinen's performance is also worthy of kudos. Her sound is dark and robust without sacrificing clarity or articulation. The Allegro non troppo of the fourth movement takes off at a faster-than-expected tempo, but the ensemble holds onto the tempo and delivers listeners to a very exciting and powerful conclusion. Few recordings can compare with that made by Rubinstein and the Guarneri Quartet; although this CD does not surpass that venerable recording, it is at least as worthy of attention.
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