Cuarteto Casals - Brahms: String Quartets, Piano Quintet (2008)

The three string quartets of Johannes Brahms are difficult beasts to master. On the one hand, they contain some of the densest, richest harmonization in the repertoire. This can be quickly followed by moments of utter transparency and serenity. The Cuarteto Casals, however, only delivers on one half of this sonic spectrum. When it comes to the lighter sound quality as heard, for example, in the beginning of the third movement of the A minor quartet or the fourth movement of the B flat major quartet, the sound quality produced by the Cuarteto Casals seems just about right. Problems arise in thicker textures. Whether arising from balance issues within the quartet or from recording engineering issues, balance is extremely problematic. The cello's sound is unpleasantly muddy, the second violin and viola practically inaudible, and the first violin far too bright and thin. The quartet makes curious musical decisions, as well, often choosing tempos that are entirely too fast, altering tempos when no such changes are called for in the score, and incessantly elongating preparatory beats. The CD also includes Brahms' piano quintet, perhaps one of the finest works written for that instrumentation. The issues heard in the string quartets are still present; the inclusion of the piano only adds one more instrument whose sound quality is indistinct and fuzzy, particularly in the lower registers. With so many fine recordings of each of these works available, this album is likely one best left behind.