Schubert on Period Instruments from Blue Coast

[Bob Stern]

Based on the YouTube audio linked from the Blue Coast website, my impression is that the New Esterhazy Quartet plays with very little dynamic or rhythmic expression, especially after the first 2 minutes.  Jud, if this is your first exposure to this piece (Schubert's final string quartet, no. 15 in G), you might want to complement it with a more mainstream interpretation.

 

The Miró String Quartet is deliberate like the New Esterhazy but is extremely probing without eccentricity.

 

Other mainstream performances that are a bit faster and skip the repeat in the very long first movement are the Emerson Quartet and the Melos Quartet of Stuttgart.

[Bob Stern]

Jud, do you want me to see what period instrument recordings are recommended by Fanfare magazine?

 

Are you already familiar with Schubert's 2 preceding string quartets, the piano quintet, the string quintet, and the 2 piano trios?