Eroica Quartet - Mendelssohn - String Quartets, Vol.3 (2005)

Finally, Mendelssohn's string quartets are hitting the big time. Over the past decade, there have been more and, for the most part, better recordings of his quartets that at any time in history. Think of the Alban Berg Quartet's brilliantly bracing recording or the Quatuor Mosaïques' fervently soulful recording. Of course, there have also been some fairly mediocre recordings -- think of the Emerson's recklessly energetic recording -- and merely passable recordings -- think of the Henschel's hastily enthusiastic recording. Thankfully, the Eroica Quartet's recordings of Mendelssohn's quartets are more than mediocre and much more than passable. The Eroica Quartet is dedicated to returning Romantic performance practice and its playing has more portamento, vibrato, and tempo rubato in it than most contemporary quartets. Unfortunately, the Eroica Quartet's playing lacks the depth and warmth of the Quatuor Mosaïques' and its performances lack the rigor and strength of the Alban Berg Quartet. While there are many winning things about the Eroica's interpretations -- the graceful lightness of the E flat quartet's Scherzo or the affecting intensity of the F minor quartet's Adagio -- too often the ensemble's interpretations seem only superficially impressive and only fleetingly moving. Harmonia Mundi's sound is warm and round, but close and dry.