The Busch Quartet Play Beethoven, Vol. 3 (2008)

The third volume in Michael Dutton's remasterings of the Busch Quartet's recordings of Beethoven string quartets contains two works: the Quartet in F major, Op. 59/1, the first of the composer's middle quartets, and the Quartet in E flat major, Op. 127, the first of his late quartets. The former was recorded in New York for Columbia in 1942, while the later was recorded in London for EMI in 1936. Despite the change in companies and continents, the Busch's performances are amazingly consistent. In both, the approach is ... Read More

The third volume in Michael Dutton's remasterings of the Busch Quartet's recordings of Beethoven string quartets contains two works: the Quartet in F major, Op. 59/1, the first of the composer's middle quartets, and the Quartet in E flat major, Op. 127, the first of his late quartets. The former was recorded in New York for Columbia in 1942, while the later was recorded in London for EMI in 1936. Despite the change in companies and continents, the Busch's performances are amazingly consistent. In both, the approach is essentially modern. Vibrato and tempo rubato are relatively restrained, while forms are clear and the ensemble is clean. This doesn't mean the Busch's performances are at all dull. In place of sentimentality, there's intensity, and in place of emotionality, there's expressivity. Here the F major quartet's central Adagio molto e mesto is deeply soulful and E flat major quartet's opening Maestoso -- Allegro is wonderfully lyrical without either ever resorting to tawdry, expressive tricks.... Read Less