Charles Villiers Stanford Quintets – Worth the Wait
By Ralph Graves
This is a release I’ve been waiting for. The Dante Quartet’s traversal of Stanford’s string quartets was first-rate. I expected their recording of his quintets to be on the same level.
It is.
For the string quintets, members of the Dante and Endellion Quartets joined forces. Both of these UK-based ensembles thoroughly understand Stanford’s music. And I could hear the results.
Stanford wrote the quintets for violinist Joseph Joachim, who also had a close relationship with Brahms. I’ve often characterized Stanford as Brahms with an Irish lilt, and that holds true here.
The overall structure of the quintets follows Brahms’ model. These are large, carefully constructed works, with motifs clearly delineated and expertly developed.
The album also includes Stanford’s Three Intermiezzi from 1880. Originally written for clarinet and piano, the cello and piano version recorded here works quite well. Cellist Richard Jenkinson makes the most of Stanford’s emotive melodies without lapsing into sentimentality.
Another fine release. No how about Stanford’s piano quartets?
Charles Villiers Stanford: String Quintets and Intermezzi
Members of the Dante and Endellion Quartets; Benjamin Frith, piano
Somm Recordings
