Search - Mozart, American String Quartet :: 12

Some of the best Mozart ever recorded

Sight Reader | Fort Collins, CO United States | 11/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As with the first recording of this set, the American String Quartet pulls off the nearly impossible task of filling the music with a touching and sincere passion, maintaining a fresh interpretation and without comprimising their crystalline perfection of color, pitch and ensemble.



However, the recording of K.575 goes far beyond even these superlatives. I have listened to this interpretation over and over, and yet even after 100 times it still moves me like nothing else can. The tear wrenching passion with which this piece is played is never once shattered by a single flaw in technique or stylistic injustice. This is, in my opinion, four movements of the greatest playing of Mozart ever, and it always transports me to a land of ideal, heart wrenching beauty.



This achievement cannot be understated, as the level of repetition, fuss and perfection required to perfect the nuances tends to wear down players and smash the fragile spontenaity and innocence of Mozart's writing. K. 499 is also superlative, and has moments that touch the level of chemistry and perfection found in the entirety of K.575, and is among the best recordings available.



As with their first recording, the American String Quartet somehow expresses their passion within the strict confines of steady tempo, avoiding the excessive romanticism that obliterates delicate voices and victimizes other modern ensembles. On the other hand, they also keep their egos in check: there is no pretentious period instrument styling (inappropriate for this sort of approach), and they keep the tempos respectful and joyfully elegant, avoiding the crass showmanship that plague groups that blaze away at utterly inappropriate speed.



The earlier quartet contained in this set is also sensitively done, but is really quite slight compared to the others."