COMPOSERS: Beethoven
LABELS: Chandos
ALBUM TITLE: Beethoven
WORKS: String Quartets, op.18
PERFORMER: Borodin Quartet
CATALOGUE NO: CHAN 10381(3)
In the Op. 18 Quartets, Beethoven
appears to be at a stylistic crossroads,
bowing with reverence to the
traditions of Haydn and Mozart on
the one hand while at the same time
forging ahead with a more exploratory
idiom that anticipates his middle
period. To attain an ideal balance
between these aspects is problematic,
and I am not at all convinced that
the Borodin Quartet have managed
this in their latest recording.
The overriding problem seems
to be a lack of charm and joie de
vivre in the more graceful sections
of the music, the dour approach of
the Borodins tending to make the
music seem surprisingly limited in its
emotional range. Even the sturm und
drang of the first movement of the
C minor Quartet seems hard-driven
rather than passionate and urgent,
and the ensuing slow movement
lacks the humour and elegance
suggested by Beethoven’s marking of
Andante scherzoso. Elsewhere, there
are moments of rhythmic instability,
particularly in the Finales of the F major and G major, and the
occasional lack of clarity in
articulation that is somewhat
uncharacteristic of a quartet with
the pedigree of the Borodins.
Indeed, one may well ask why
Chandos bothered to release this
set, given that they issued an historic
recording of the Borodins playing
the same works only a couple of years
ago. Direct comparison between the
two versions reveals that despite the
immeasurably superior engineering
of the present release, the Borodin’s
earlier performances are simply
irresistible and convey much of the
energy and enthusiasm that is sadly
missing here. Erik Levi.
