Playing like this disarms criticism. These performances are as fine as any, making comparison basically pointless. The “American” has that artless freshness and simple joy in vivid color that Dvorák’s folk-like melodies demand. The players take the first-movement exposition repeat (what sane person wouldn’t want to hear it twice?), offer vivaciously sprung rhythms in the scherzo and finale, and deliver a slow movement that’s soulful but never tacky. This is without question a performance in the great Czech tradition, in which immaculate ensemble and beautifully smooth sonority never overwhelm the music’s purposeful forward thrust.
The Thirteenth Quartet is simply one of the very greatest works in the genre, arguably the finest after Beethoven (and that’s not forgetting Brahms). At 36 minutes, it operates on a symphonic scale, but its depth and intimacy belong uniquely to the quartet medium. The performance, once again, is magnificent, particularly in the Adagio non troppo, where the players find a perfect tempo and phrase the music with exceptional sensitivity. If the coupling looks appealing, then snap this release up without delay. [1/12/2011]
