Gringolts Quartet, Peter Laul - Robert Schumann: String Quartets Nos. 1-3; Piano Quintet (2011) 2CDs

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Gringolts Quartet, Peter Laul - Robert Schumann: String Quartets Nos. 1-3; Piano Quintet (2011) 2CDs

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The three string quartets, Op. 41, of Robert Schumann date from the middle of 1842, the same period when he also composed the Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op. 44, so their inclusion together in this double-disc album from Onyx is appropriate, if slightly curious. While the Piano Quintet is among the most popular pieces in the chamber repertoire, the string quartets have languished in a state of comparative neglect and are relatively under-represented in the catalog. The shadow of Beethoven loomed large over many composers in the 19th century, and the example of his extraordinary late string quartets made successors appear lacking by comparison; this is the most likely explanation for the weak standing of Schumann's Op. 41, and why the Piano Quintet escaped invidious comparisons. Yet these clear-eyed and thoughtful performances by the Gringolts Quartet demonstrate that Schumann's abilities in the string quartet genre were considerable, and they show his careful balancing of the parts and bring out the motivic coherence he derived from Beethoven. The Gringolts are absolutely secure in playing these works, but there is a noticeable burst of energy and enthusiasm that they bring to the Piano Quintet, which is shared by pianist Peter Laul. Onyx provides fairly focused recording of the strings, but the piano recedes into the background, perhaps because of the microphone's placement in the highly resonant church acoustics.

Review by Blair Sanderson, Allmusic.com

Mere weeks after the Doric’s Op 41 comes another new set of Schumann’s miraculous quartets, this time coupled with the Piano Quintet. The Gringolts Quartet is a relatively new phenomenon, having formed in 2008. These four fine players are consistently musical in their approach and there is nothing outlandish or suspect about their interpretations. And therein perhaps lies their weakness, for it’s precisely that degree of risk-taking that makes this music come alive. It’s a risky strategy of course, but it’s there in abundance in both the Doric’s and the Zehetmair’s readings, and that’s what makes them so convincing. The Gringolts Quartet are less extreme – their slow movements faster, their fast ones steadier. It means that a movement such as the Scherzo of No 1 is heavier, with Mendelssohn – such a potent point of reference in the Doric’s reading – here banished; the coda to the finale of No 2, while still exciting, doesn’t have that edge-of-madness to it that you find in the Doric. There’s also more sense of four distinct personalities at work in the Doric, notably in moments such as the ravishing cello-violin duet in the Adagio of the First. There is elegance to the new reading, though, which can be persuasive, such as in the variation-form second movement of No 2, though the close recording has caught what sounds like intakes of breath, which may prove distracting for some listeners.

For the Quintet the Gringolts are joined by Peter Laul, who makes light of the fiendish piano-writing. They set off at a purposeful tempo and ironically it’s here that you experience the quartet members showing more individuality. The fast movements generally come off best here – though in the Scherzo it’s hard to match the fingery brilliance of either Marc-André Hamelin or Leif Ove Andsnes; while Argerich leads a joyous dance in the finale, edging towards mania in her propulsion. It’s in the slow movement that doubts arise again with this new recording: momentum is in short supply, despite the fact that the players are less daringly slow than the Takács/Hamelin reading.

Review by Harriet Smith, Gramophone

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Gringolts Quartet, Peter Laul - Robert Schumann: String Quartets Nos. 1-3; Piano Quintet (2011) 2CDs

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Gringolts Quartet, Peter Laul - Robert Schumann: String Quartets Nos. 1-3; Piano Quintet (2011) 2CDs

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Gringolts Quartet, Peter Laul - Robert Schumann: String Quartets Nos. 1-3; Piano Quintet (2011) 2CDs

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Gringolts Quartet, Peter Laul - Robert Schumann: String Quartets Nos. 1-3; Piano Quintet (2011) 2CDs

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