Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Klenke-Quartett :: Mozart: String Quartets, K. 464 & 465

Two More of Mozart's 'Haydn' Quartets Beautifully Presented

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 02/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Take a moment to listen to a track or two of the music presented on this just-released disc and you'll see why I'm so high on this new (to me) quartet, the Klenke Quartet. The group comprises four extremely attractive young women who met while studying at the Weimar Conservatoire in 1994; their name comes from the surname of their first violinist Annegret Klenke. I had raved about their earlier release of quartets from the 'Haydn' quartet set, the one Mozart wrote in honor of his elder colleague. That CD contains the G major, K.367 and D major, K.421 quartets; this one the A major, K.464 and the C major, K.465 (the so-called 'Dissonant'). We can only hope the remaining two quartets will be released soon.



From the first impulsive moments of the A Major to the fairy-light Allegro molto of the 'Dissonant' this quartet seems never to put a foot (or, rather, finger) wrong. Their instincts about how the works go seem unerring. They have spirit, feeling and apt phrasing and dynamics coupled with extremely clean technique. Although the four instruments blend well, one can always pick out each strand of the four-voiced colloquy (unlike a recent recording I recently reviewed in which the cellist was unbecomingly modest).



Nosing around on the Internet I see that the Klenkes have recorded Goldmark's Op. 8 quartet, an old favorite of mine, along with the Mendelssohn A Minor quartet. I'm going to have to search that CD out. And I hope it won't be too long before they tour the US. I would actually pay money and even make a trip to hear this marvelous group.



[I notice that for some reason Amazon is charging less for this disc that for its predecessor.]



Scott Morrison"