Despite the ‘s’ (Georges) on the booklet cover, there
are numerous inconsistencies within its pages to emphasise the point
that this composer was the son of an English father (the aristocrat
Edward Onslow MP, disgraced by sexual scandal and forced into exile)
and a French mother. Overshadowed by Beethoven perhaps, but Onslow was
a skilled composer as the music here vividly illustrates. He wrote 36
string quartets and almost as many quintets, Schumann was an admirer,
and the Royal Philharmonic Society elected him its second honorary member
(Mendelssohn had been the first). Although his catalogue of compositions
covers most forms, it is his chamber music which produced his best,
most inspired work. On this disc it is the striking slow movement of
Op.20 which illustrates the point, beautifully crafted with its plangent
melodies and sublime Schubertian combination of legato and pizzicato.
Vivacious finales characterise all the works (Op.20 once again to the
fore), while minuets are brisk and busy scherzi (the French honoured
him as ‘our French Beethoven’). Two other volumes have already been
issued by CPO, and this one is very fine. The Mandelring Quartet (exponents
of the other two volumes) play it all beautifully, with exemplary ensemble,
technical fluency, thrilling speeds, and always giving of their best
for this revelatory music. George Onslow is not a name known to many
apart from aficionados of early 19th century music - if you
admire Spohr, then this will appeal - but on the strength of this disc,
and apologies for restating the strengths of Op.20 once again but it
really is a fine work, we will hopefully get to hear all seventy odd
quartets and quintets in due course. CPO are on to a winner.
Christopher Fifield
Mandelring Quartet