Mikroelektronik 87

Lively and colourful period-instrument accounts of pioneering works in the genre that later gave us masterpieces by Schubert, Schumann and Brahms.

Two factors should disqualify this disc immediately. First, the pieces are incomplete and out of order. Second, and arguably more crucially, the pianist misses handfuls of notes in nearly every selection and bucketfuls of notes in some. But some listeners won't care about these things because of the miracle of Sviatoslav Richter. What in another pianist would be grounds for dismissal is here cause for celebration. Check out Richter's Shostakovich: the mysterious colors of his F minor Prelude and Fugue, the fleet virtuosity of his A minor Prelude and Fugue, or the intensity of his E minor Prelude and Fugue.

The Jubilee Quartet follow their critically acclaimed debut album of Haydn (RCD1039) with two contrasting quartets by Schubert. The sunny and joyful D.87, his 10th quartet dates from his 16th year. Already the singing quality of the writing is apparent. The late G Major quartet, the composer’s 15th and final quartet dates from 1826. The emotions here are extreme – dramatic, violent, painful, menacing, introverted and innocent. Written on a large scale, this work is a groundbreaking masterpiece that stands shoulder to shoulder with the late Beethoven quartets.