Piano Quartets (Domus) (1986)

"It’s a long time since I’ve enjoyed a record so much on so many counts – performance, recording, sleeve presentation, and last but not least, the music itself. In both quartets Fauré emerges as unmistakably French. Yet how subtly they contrast the lyricism and mercurial fantasy of the first with the greater intensity of the second, dedicated to the German pianist and conductor, Hans von Bülow. I particularly liked their quicksilver-like fluidity of phrasing in the earlier work, also the pianist’s very lightly pedalled, frothing textures. And by starting the slow movement as a true piano, how much they have in reserve for its noble central climax. For the more urgent flanking movements they find all the requisite tonal strength and rhythmic bite. I admire the recording for its truthful tone quality and clear-cut textures, but still more for its dynamic range." (gramophone.com)

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