Mozart: Quartet No. 5 in F major, K. 158

Introduction

There have been lovely recordings of Mozart's early string quartets before -- one thinks immediately of the Quartetto Italiano recordings released on Philips -- but even the loveliest is no lovelier than this one by the Cuarteto Casals. Because while the Italiano's performances are elegantly polished, its elegance is studied and its polish is nearly perfect, but the Casals' performances are passionately dedicated, its passion is wholly unfeigned, and its dedication passes over into absolute love. There is an energy, an enthusiasm, even an excitement to the performances that the Italiano cannot match. Part of it may be the Casals' youth -- this is only its third recording since graduating from Escuela Reina Sofia in Madrid -- part of it may be the Casals' nationality -- that it is a Spanish quartet shows in its fiery attack and blazing ensemble -- but most of it is the Casals' temperament -- they are all first-rate players, but the best thing about them is the obvious affection they have for the music. The Allegros are brightly buoyant, the Adagios are gracefully lyrical, the Minuettos are charmingly coy, the Prestos are amazingly thrilling, and every bow stroke is filled with a love of music making. One gets the sense that, for the Cuarteto Casals, these are not merely early quartets by Mozart, these are great quartets by Mozart. Anyone who only knows and loves Mozart's later quartets will want to know and love his early quartets, too, and there is no more lovable recording than this one. Harmonia Mundi's sound is close, warm, and real.