RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Quartet, D703, ‘Quartettsatz’ (1820) [9:05]
Quartet, op.post. 161, D887 (1826) [52:31]
Doric String Quartet
rec. 23-25 May 2016, Porton Hall, Dunwich, Suffolk, UK
CHANDOS CHAN10931 [61:50]
Is there a more tantalising fragment in the history of music
than Schubert’s late ‘Quartettsatz’ (Quartet Movement) D
703? Why he didn’t complete the (presumably) three remaining movements
is not known. It was not a case of untimely death – the movement was
written in 1820, eight years before his demise. No; more than likely, Schubert
found himself temporarily unsure how to continue, and was then forced to work
on other things. A clue might be that, between 1819 and 1823, he worked on,
and in some cases completed, no less than nine operas. So the missing
three movements of the quartet become more explicable.
But what a movement this remaining one is! The brilliant young Doric Quartet
go for broke, using huge contrasts of dynamics, tone and articulation to extract
all the underlying drama and tension in this music. The opening tremolos,
marked pianissimo, seem to come from the far distance and suddenly
erupt before us in angry minor harmonies. All the way through, the Doric respond
to the ebb and flow of emotions, and the kaleidoscopic interplay of themes.
Quite a roller-coaster, but my word, does it hold the attention.
All those qualities persist into the late G major quartet, but placed in a
far larger musical landscape. This is a gigantic work from the final phase
of Schubert’s short life; the first movement alone is twenty-two minutes
plus, giving it Brucknerian proportions. Interesting comparison; try the old
Innocent Ear game with a musically savvy friend who hasn’t heard the
piece before. Listen to the first minute or so and ask ‘who’s
the composer?’ Anton Bruckner would be a highly intelligent guess, with
the harmonic side-slips, the whispering tremolandos and the first
violin’s quiet fanfares. Magical stuff, and the Dorics bring the same
sense of mystery here as they do to the opening of the Quartettsatz.
The danger in their very intense approach might be the risk of overstretching
the movement’s inner contrasts, thus undermining its structure and flow.
But I feel they have wholly avoided that danger by their sensitivity to the
importance of the more relaxed moments, chiefly those associated with the
slow Viennese waltz of the second main theme. Notable, as with all the best
chamber groups, is the way that the individual players are each able to project
their personalities powerfully when required, while maintaining a secure sense
of inner ensemble.
The uneasy Andante un poco mosso is wonderful; the extraordinary
outburst around 3:15 (track 3) dissolves into a moment of regret whose pathos
is underlined by a momentary use of senza vibrato – hauntingly
effective and affecting. This is a strangely restless movement, though Schubert
finally relents and allows the music to end comfortingly in the major key
– even if the ‘comfort’ sounds provisional!
The Scherzo seemed highly seasonal to me (it’s very cold outside
as I write this), with its teeth-chattering main theme and foot-stamping rhythms.
The diffident theme of the trio took a moment to establish itself, but soon
did so, with some more exquisitely soft playing from the quartet. The finale
has something of the diabolic quality that we find in the equivalent movement
of the ‘Death and the Maiden’ quartet; but Schubert’s inability
to make up his mind whether he’s in the major or the minor key –
sometimes seemingly switching from one to the other and back within the same
bar – seems well-nigh schizophrenic. Thank-you, recording team, for
completing a superb effort by letting us hear the resonating strings following
that final chord.
The Dorics have lived through every bar of this music, and make it come alive
for us in the same way. They have clearly considered the character and meaning
of every phase and every phrase of these masterpieces, and play with technical
assurance, intelligence and imagination. Quite a ride!
Gwyn Parry-Jones
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