Jerusalem Quartet SCHUBERT Der Tod und das Mädchen

The Jerusalem Quartet has established a fine reputation for insightful interpretations and incisive playing, and its polished recordings for Harmonia Mundi are well worth investigating for their acute and passionate performances. This compelling recording of Franz Schubert's String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, "Death and the Maiden," D. 810, and the String Quartet No. 12 in C minor, "Quartettsatz," D. 703, is utterly exciting from start to finish, not just for the powerful suspense that the ensemble builds, or only for the intense energy it brings to these brooding Romantic works, but also for the foreboding mystery and haunted feeling with which it imbues this dark, death-obsessed music. If these late string quartets were intended to send a few chills up the spine, then the Jerusalem Quartet has found the right tone and edginess for Schubert's grim expressions, and the ensemble's tight rhythms, sharp articulation, and breathtaking speed combine to great effect in both performances. While some listeners will undoubtedly prefer vintage recordings by more seasoned quartets, this 2008 release bespeaks the Jerusalem Quartet's freshness, vitality, and firm mastery, despite not having much of a track record yet in Schubert; though this disc may not have the status of established classics, it promises great things to come. Harmonia Mundi's reproduction is clean, crisp, and quite spacious. (Blair Sanderson)