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Sound
Sample: Quartet
No. 1 1st
Movement
Adagio - Allegro appassionato
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Sound
Sample: Quartet
No. 1
3rd Movement
Allegretto grazioso -
Animato |
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Sound
Sample: Quartet
No. 1 4th
Movement
Allegro agitato - Allegro
moderato - Adagio molto |
The Magginis mean business;
that is the unequivocal message hearing this
disc. The attack and unshakeable commitment
of the players positively leaps out of the
speakers at you. Their technical skill whether
in the flood of intensity or the subtler voicings
and interplay is never in doubt.
The First Quartet dates
from 1906,a work written by the 27 year old
composer for the Bologna competition. This
is music caught in the confident high tide
of the romantic sea. It resembles that of
early Zemlinsky and Karl Weigl (such a pity
the Arttis were never able to complete their
Weigl cycle for Nimbus - will anyone rescue
that series). The whole work projects warmth
and affection - a tribute to the Magginis.
Ah but then the remorseless
pages are turned and we come to a world changed
by The Great War - or at least A Great War.
That war progressively snuffed out the innocence
from his music and injected scorch and rancour.
The Third Quartet has about it a clarity,
spareness and desolation. This is the dark
side of the moon by comparison with the first
two quartets. The scene is an almost palpable
picture of deserted trench networks and the
dead hanging in the looms of wire. That said
the Magginis in the central movement superbly
capture a touchingly wistful lament. Lovely
playing.
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Sound
Sample: Quartet
No. 2 1st
Movement
Andante moderato - Allegro
moderato |
This layout nicely assuages
the acerbities of the New Viennese Bridge
with the young romantic headstrong innocent
of the pre-war quartets.
With the Magginis nothing
seems impossible. I can imagine them setting
down the complete Van Dieren quartets in a
few years time.
This disc goes right to the
top of the recommendations for its scorching
ripeness and sentiment.
Rob Barnett
Maggini Quartet 