Ferdinand RIES (1784-1838)
String Quartets Volume 3
String Quintet in d minor, Op.68* (1809 or 1811) [28:59]
String Quartet in F, Op.70/1 (1812) [25:01]
String Quartet in c minor, Op.126/2 (1815) [21:30]
Schuppanzigh-Quartett [Anton Steck, Franc Polman (violins); Christian
Goosses (viola), Werner Matzke (cello)] with Raquel Massades (viola)*
rec. 5-8 March 2016, Andreaskirche, Berlin. DDD.
CPO 777305-2
[75:35]
The Romantic Piano Concerto 75
Ferdinand RIES
Piano Concerto No.8 in A-flat, Op.151 Gruß an den Rhein (1827)
[29:55]
Introduction and Polonaise, Op.174 (1833) [14:49]
Piano Concerto No.9 in g minor, Op.177 (1832) [28:37]
Piers Lane (piano)
The Orchestra Now/Leon Botstein
rec. January 2017, Richard B Fisher Center, Bard College, USA. DDD.
Reviewed as 24/96 download with pdf booklet from
hyperion-records.co.uk.
HYPERION CDA68217
[73:21]
Ferdinand Ries is, perhaps, best known as one of Beethoven’s pupils and
co-author of an important early biography of him, but he has gathered a
significant discography in recent years, to which the chief contributors
have been Naxos and CPO. This is the third volume which the latter have
devoted to his string quartets, performed by the Schuppanzigh Quartet, a
somewhat tardy follow-up to volume 2, released in 2008 and recorded in
2005! (CPO 777227-2 –
review). Kevin Sutton liked that release, if not very enthusiastically, but
decried the obtuse programme notes. Patrick Waller was rather warmer in his
praise of volume 1 –
review.
The music is clearly indebted to Beethoven, but so are the string quartets
of even the better-known composers of Ries’s generation. I’m not suggesting
that there is anything here to compare with the music of Brahms or
Mendelssohn, but even they never managed to break wholly free from the
master’s shadow in their chamber compositions. In any case, it would be
unfair to expect these comparatively early works – despite the high opus
numbers – to match the best of Beethoven, whose own late quartets were ten
years away (1825/86). His Op.95, rightly regarded as on the cusp of the
late style, dates from 1810.
The performances are very accomplished. There seem to be no competitors in
the catalogue, and I doubt that any possible future releases could better
those on this album. I enjoyed hearing it enough to check out its
predecessors via
Naxos Music Library
– subscribers will find all three volumes there, together with CPO
recordings of his piano quartets (999885-2 –
review
–
review)
and flute quartets (555051-2 –
review). They also offer his Piano Quintet, Op.74, and Sextets, Op.100 and 142
(999622-2).
The sound quality is bright but not lacking in warmth. Those in search of
high-res, however, will have to look in vain – 16-bit, or the CD from which
I reviewed the album, seems to be the best on offer.
The notes to volume 3 are less abstruse than KS found those of its
predecessor, though there are times when they are a little flowery –
unsuitable for military service in 1805, ‘this chalice passed him by (mangels Tauglichkeit ging der Kelch zwar an ihm vorüber)’. The
English version could also have done with more thorough proof-reading – ‘he
was forced make ends meet’.
The Piano Concertos are more mature works, composed after his return from
an eleven-year stay in England, hence the subtitle of No.8, his greeting to
the Rhine which flows past his home town of Bonn. It’s an attractive work
and Piers Lane makes it sound almost first-rate. I haven’t heard the Naxos
recording, with Christopher Hinterhuber, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
and Uwe Grodd, but it was well received here by
Colin Clarke
and
Glyn Pursglove
in 2006 and I enjoyed two later volumes in the series –
DL Roundup December 2010,
also volume 5 in
DL News 2012/24.
See also
review of volume 3
by Dan Morgan.
An economic fact-check may be in order: the Naxos recordings come at budget
price; though that means about £7.50 nowadays, it’s still likely to be
around £5 less than the Hyperion. Even downloaders will find a price
differential, with the Hyperion at £8.99 (£13.50 for 24-bit) and my
guide-price for the Naxos download £4.791 (16-bit lossless, with
pdf booklet; no 24-bit available).
None of which is meant to downplay the value of the new Hyperion which, if
anything, is marginally preferable to the Naxos as a performance and
definitely preferable for those requiring 24-bit sound – well worth going
for in this case, despite the price differential.
The other works are not comparable in quality with Concerto No.8, but are
well worth hearing in these persuasive performances. Piers Lane, the doyen
of this Hyperion series, is joined by an orchestra which I hadn’t
encountered before, but who give a good account of themselves at the
hands of a conductor whose work I have often enjoyed, though not, I believe
on Hyperion.
Terry Barfoot in his review – link below – noted that the recording balance
favours the piano, but, true as that is, it didn’t trouble me in listening
to this music.
You will need to decide if it’s worth paying more for the new Hyperion than
for the Naxos. My answer would be yes, but I didn’t have to pay for the
24/96 download. As to the comparative merits of these two recordings of
Ries reviewed here, neglected music that is beginning to be better
appreciated, I suppose that I would plump for the Hyperion first, but the
CPO also gave me a good deal of pleasure.
1
Don’t pay more for mp3, as much as £7.89 without booklet.
Brian Wilson
Previous review (concertos):
Terry Barfoot
