Schubert - String Quintet in C / Alban Berg Quartet · Schiff

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This is an impressive reading of the quintet, notable for its energy and lyrical beauty, and cellist Heinrich Schiff certainly throws the considerable weight of his tone behind the fine, blended sound of the Alban Berg Quartet. The original 1982 recording was first-rate, and EMI's engineers have done a superb job of capturing its ambience and warm tone on this remastering in the Great Recordings of the Century series. The only drawback is that the players omit the exposition repeat in the quintet's first movement, depriving it of the "heavenly length" it should have. --Ted Libbey

Schubert - String Quintet in C / Alban Berg Quartet · Schiff, Music, Franz Schubert, Alban Berg Quartett, Heinrich Schiff, Günther Pichler, Thomas Kakuska, Gerhard Schulz, Chamber, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Quintet for Five String Instruments

Average customer rating:

A highly polished reading

Best Rendition of Favourite Piece

The best...very Viennese...very Schubert

I expecteded more from the Berg Quartett --- 3 1/2 stars

Schubert - String Quintet in C / Alban Berg Quartet · Schiff
Franz Schubert , Alban Berg Quartett , Heinrich Schiff , Günther Pichler , Thomas Kakuska , and Gerhard Schulz
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Alban Berg String Quartet | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Franz Schubert: Quintet/Symphony No.5

Schubert: 24 Lieder

Schubert: Piano Sonata D. 960/3 Klavierstücke D. 946

Schubert: String Quartets Nos. 13 "Rosamunde" & 14 "Death and the Maiden"

Great Recordings Of The Century - Brahms: Violin Sonatas nos 1 - 3 / Perlman, Ashkenazy

ASIN: B00000I7WA
Release Date: 1999-03-09

Tracks:

I: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
II: Adagio
III: Scherzo (Presto) & Trio (Andante Sostenuto)
IV: Allegretto

Amazon.com

This is an impressive reading of the quintet, notable for its energy and lyrical beauty, and cellist Heinrich Schiff certainly throws the considerable weight of his tone behind the fine, blended sound of the Alban Berg Quartet. The original 1982 recording was first-rate, and EMI's engineers have done a superb job of capturing its ambience and warm tone on this remastering in the Great Recordings of the Century series. The only drawback is that the players omit the exposition repeat in the quintet's first movement, depriving it of the "heavenly length" it should have. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

A highly polished reading.......2005-06-17

Many consider Schubert's String Quintet D956 one of the pinnacle masterpieces in the entire chamber repertoire. With its diverse emotional moods, memorable lyrical themes, and dense, rich textures from the added cello, Schubert's only string quintet is clearly a masterpiece. The Austrian Alban Berg quartet gives a plush, poised reading of this great work, worthy of a "Great Performance" accolade. Their style and sound is often described as "polished" which can be clearly heard in this recording or in their wonderful performances of Mozart's final great quartets (4-CD set on Teldec). Their precise, silky and tonally rich playing combined with very good sound quality all make for a strong choice - although the 46 minutes is a bit chinsy for one CD. Other fine performances of this great quintet to consider: the bold reading from the Emerson String Quartet with Rostropovich (DG 3-CD set with the last string quartets) or the live, spirited recording from Pamela Frank and the Marlboro Festival players (Sony).

Best Rendition of Favourite Piece.......2005-01-01

Whilst a pianist, Schubert's Quintet in C just strikes a chord with me that other music of a solo or orchestral nature simple doesn't. As such I have several recordings of this piece. This was the first one I acquired and from the tentative opening note to the swagger and aplomb of the finale it will draw you in and leave you wishing for more yet realising that more simply isn't humanly possible.

For this recording specifically the first two movements stand out - in spite of the missing repeat in the first. It is not for me to question Schubert's genius but I feel that performances of the first movements of both the Quintet and the D minor Quartet D810 'Death and the Maiden' do not lose anything from the ommission of their exposition repeats and if anything gain a feeling of progression and cohesion (particulary in D810).

There isn't a single phrase or note which feels at all out of place here - such attention to detail for a peace as long and with so many subtley repeated notes is remarkable.

The third and fourth movements whilst not nearly as substantial as the first two are played to perfection. The scherzo has power and an unrivalled intensity of conviction. The proceeding trio is reflective and brooding - the repeated chords leading to the recapitulation are fantastic and never cease to heighten the tension no matter how well I know exactly what is around the corner. The final movement is approached as one critic put it "with just the right balance of swagger and reserve" - although there is one tiny mistake which I only recently picked up at around 2"09 (How's that for pedantry!).

The sound quality is excellent and - as should be the case - won't be a consideration unless you purposely set out to analyse it.

Simply unrivalled.

Not however unchallenged at a very high level and I would also reccommend the Lindsays mid 80's version - unimpeachable sound and marvellous control across the dynamic spectrum: comes packaged with the late quartets; D810 is sublime but that's another story.

The best...very Viennese...very Schubert.......2004-10-12

Although many American concert-goers and players prefer the Emerson with Rostro, after listening to the Berg, I still prefer it. There is more idiomatic playing, with the right amount of rubato. It just seems "right". If you've played the quintet yourself, you'll really appreciate how they get the Viennese sound just right. They're Viennese after all, they should. The intonation and ensemble is just as good as the Emersons. The omission of the exposition repeat is a minor quibble. Go to a concert and I bet they don't include the repeat. If you want to hear more Schubert, hit the repeat button or listen to "Death and the Maiden".

This is the one to get.

I expecteded more from the Berg Quartett --- 3 1/2 stars.......2003-12-18

This is by no means a bad performance, and I do not intend it as a bad review. The 3 1/2 stars is a relative rating, taking into consideration the other excellent recordings the Berg Quartett has produced. Judged on its own merits, this would be in the top ten versions of the Schubert Quintet I have heard.

The problem is that I have been spoiled by the Bergs' top-notch recordings of the Beethoven Quartets. I have also heard live performances of the Schubert Quintet which far exceed the level of playing heard on this CD. I guess I came to this CD with expectations that were too high, but I cannot help but be influenced by the Berg Quartett's high standards of musicianship, and this recording left me feeling somewhat disappointed. Again, this is not a bad performance, but I would recommend the Emerson Quartet's version before I would recommend this one.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

The Wrens/The Five Mod Four Split [EP]

Heritage Series Vol. III - Soul

Madrid Quintets: Flute Quintets G.437-439-441

Difference in Me

Inclement Weather

Messenger

Just the Two of Us Butcher Bro [CD-single] [Import]

If You Don't Already Have a Look

I Luv Mum: For the Best Mum in the World Ever [Import]

Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart [Original recording remastered]

Montreal Tapes Tribute to Joe Haden [Import]

Le Concert [Live]

Mental Prison

The Battle of the Bulge: The Original Score by Benjamin Frankel

Nothin' But the Truth!