Brilliant Classics continues with this sixth volume of its complete Mozart set. This volume, containing seven CDs, features Mozart’s string quartets, some of the finest and most popular of the composer’s music. They are performed by two fine quartets: the Sonare Quartet and the Franz Schubert Quartet of Vienna.

The Sonare gets to perform the first twelve quartets (as well as the early work KV 802 tacked on to the final disc as an "appendix"), which represent an early period for Mozart in this form. Mozart here goes through two stages - the first six quartets are in three movements each, and the next six each include four movements. Compositionally, Mozart grew between the two, with the second six quartets being far more mature. Mozart imitates Haydn’s methods, without reaching the same summits of technique and musicality. His fugal finales are quite interesting, yet sound more like the pyrotechnics of a young composer than the masterworks of his model, Haydn. The Sonare Quartet performs this music with grace and taste, and the balance among the instruments is very good. Some of the movements sound a bit hurried; their not playing repeats in the andantes of quartets KV 168 and 169, for example, considerably shortens these works. The former is 1.50 in this version, compared to 5.34 in the recording by the Quartetto Italiano. Nevertheless, this is a satisfying recording, one that is more than worth its budget price.

The Franz Schubert Quartet of Vienna performs all of the later quartets, from the six "Haydn" quartets onward. Like the Sonare, this quartet has a very good sound, and is perhaps a bit more cohesive. The works they play belong to a much more mature period of Mozart’s work. In the "Haydn" quartets, Mozart was entering a new world. Some say that these works surpass even Haydn’s quartets, though that is debatable. In any case, Mozart here gives a sample of what quartet writing really is - the dense counterpoint, the subtle nuances and dynamics, and the rich melodies. These works are much more massive than the early works - with increasingly long movements, reaching 14.35 in the andante of the A major quartet KV 464. Mozart experimented with huge, sprawling forms, and managed to tame and control them.

The recordings of these works are excellent, giving a fine balance between intensity and sparkle, with a good, though at times overly dense sound.

This set stands out as perhaps the best so far in Brilliant Classics’ Mozart series. With two accomplished quartets, performing some of Mozart’s most intense compositions, this bargain set is a must-have.

Kirk McElhearn

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