Although Mendelssohn's lovely String Quintet No. 2 has received many superb recordings, from the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble to the Raphael Ensemble, among others, there is still room on the shelf for more, so this 2009 recording by the Kocian Quartet coupling the B flat major Quintet with the E flat major Quartet and the Fuga in E flat that originally stood as the quartet's finale is a welcome release. With its lean tone and lucid textures, focused vibrato and graceful phrasing, clean balances, and ...
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Although Mendelssohn's lovely String Quintet No. 2 has received many superb recordings, from the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble to the Raphael Ensemble, among others, there is still room on the shelf for more, so this 2009 recording by the Kocian Quartet coupling the B flat major Quintet with the E flat major Quartet and the Fuga in E flat that originally stood as the quartet's finale is a welcome release. With its lean tone and lucid textures, focused vibrato and graceful phrasing, clean balances, and poised tempos, the Czech Quartet has the right Central European approach to the music. With its insightful interpretations, that neither overemphasize the music's lyricism nor its drama, but rather fuse them together as part of a single aesthetic impulse, the Kocian Quartet sounds like it was born to play Mendelssohn. Recorded in smooth but atmospheric sound, this disc should be heard by those who enjoy this repertoire, whether they have one recording of the works here or half a...
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