Jean-Jacques DÜNKI (b. 1948)
Madrigaux for string quartet (2011-12) [21:30]
Alexander von ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942)
String Quartet No.1 in A major Op.4 (1896) [28:00]
Zemlinsky Quartet
rec. Hans Huber-Saal, Stadtcasino, Basel, Switzerland. October 2012. stereo
CD: music only; Blu-Ray: music [49:30]; interview [31:32]
BMN 20131 [CD: 49:30; Blu-Ray: 81:02]
Since the Zemlinsky Quartet are a first class ensemble let us deal
with the music-making first.
The premiere recording of the quartet Madrigaux by Swiss pianist
and composer Jean-Jacques Dünki gives a rare opportunity to hear
some of his music. I cannot say it is at all easy to listen to but
whilst very much 'modern' it does not come over as random noise. There
is a sense of coherence about the piece which might have been more
easily grasped had my German been up to watching the lengthy interview
provided. Sadly there are no subtitles for this and one has only the
inadequate liner-note which is too convoluted to shed light. All one
can say is that Dünki's music is not without value.
The Zemlinsky quartet is much easier meat. Written in 1896 it is in
the traditional four movements and reflects the influence of Wagner
and Schubert whilst still having something of the Mahlerian angst
current at that time. The opening movement is a lovely broad conception
full of invention. It is followed by a beautiful and lyrical allegretto
punctuated by dance-like episodes. The slow movement, headed 'Broad
and Intense' is very powerful. The lively finale is highly attractive
and leaves one feeling that this is not a quartet deserving of such
neglect. Neglect is what Zemlinsky had for many years after his death
and it is only since the late 1970s that his small but impressive
catalogue of works has gained the performances it deserves.
Unfortunately the issue has several technical problems that for me
rule it out of consideration. The package contains a standard CD and
a Blu-Ray disc along with a flyer extolling the virtues of Blu-Ray
sound and its ease of use. It has both performances on video along
with an interview with Jean-Jacques Dünki. I have already noted
that this has no subtitles so unless you speak good German you will
gain nothing from it.
The music is filmed by one fixed camera in front of the performers
making it of some limited interest. The audio on the BD is HiRes at
24bit/96kHz and in the case of the Zemlinsky it sounds very good.
The track control however allows only one track to be played at a
time which means that each movement has to be selected from the poorly
behaved main menu or by selecting the track number on your remote.
I could not achieve continuous play. As if this was not enough, the
Dünki piece sounds to have been issued in mono. I can detect
no lateral spread at all and nearly gave up listening at that point.
I have to assume this is another mastering mistake. The Zemlinsky
is stereo and does sound excellent.
Moving to the CD that too has a mono recording of the Dünki and
a stereo of the Zemlinsky but does play continuously as usual. That
very nearly allowed me to recommend the CD but at the very end of
the Zemlinsky Quartet the final notes are cut off before the echo
has even begun the die away and with an audible click. This came as
an unpleasant shock and finally ruled this whole issue out of court.
In the case of the new piece this is a pity, in the case of the Zemlinsky
there is an excellent Praga Digitals issue of the Op. 4 Quartet along
with the Op. 25 and the Two Movements of 1927, a full 40 minutes of
extra Zemlinsky to enjoy. The Prazák Quartet are fully the
equal of the Zemlinsky Quartet and the CD recording has no problems
at all.
Dave Billinge
A good concept poorly mastered for issue. For the Zemlinsky look elsewhere.
Availability