These are richly rewarding readings of Beethoven’s late quartets, recorded live in Prague, the Wihan Quartet’s home city, last year.
“The group makes a meaty, full sound, and their vision of each work carries with it the insight of long, deep mutual experience – the quartet’s personnel has, unusually, remained consistent for more than two decades.”
The slow movements are at the heart of their performances. The 19-minute molto adagio of Op. 132 in A minor is achingly intense and beautifully controlled, and here asks all the right questions. We’re promised the middle and early quartets before the year is out. I can’t wait.
