SCHUBERT. String Quintet in C major, D956 Sándor Végh, Sandor Zöldy (vms): Georges Janzer (via): Pablo Casals, Paul Szabo (vlcs). Philips Musica da camera j 6570 883: LEI 7310 883. Recorded at a concert in Prades, France, on July 23rd, 1961

Selected comparisons;

Melos Qt, Rostropovich (6/78) 2530 980

Amadeus Qt, Pleeth (7/66) (12/80) (R) 2542 139 Mbrs of Collegium Aureum (10/81) 1 C 065 99911

Although a few coughs reveal it was made at a public performance, there's nothing on the sleeve to indicate the date or the circumstances of this recording, which seems a little remiss. It was in fact made in Prades in 1961. Casals, who died in 1973, had previously taken part in a mid-fifties studio recording with Isaac Stern, Tortelier and others (CBS mono 61043, 6/76—n1a) which was probably more polished than the one under review, but it may well have lacked that spice of inspiration which a live audience can stimulate. There are marvellous moments—Casals in the second subject of the first movement, to name but one. He scoops a bit and he grunts a bit but who cares? Sándor Végh has a lovely tone; indeed, all the players can be admired. The first page is rather rough and in a studio they may well have done it again, but then we might not have had the very special playing of the second subject. The slow movement is as moving as ever in spite of a rather fast tempo, and this allows for the recapitulation to be taken at a related tempo which of course it should be, but it hardly ever is. The Trio of the Scherzo is too slow, but the Scherzo itself has a fine enthusiasm, as has the finale. The balance is goodish if you are prepared to forgive a slight emphasis on the cellos.

There is not much point in comparing this disc with the others listed above. All are much better recorded and more smoothly played, the best, by and large, being the Amadeus on DG, but these ensembles don't make as much sense of that difficult matter of the slow movement tempos, and you may sense a lack of that verve which can lift a live performance into the sky. R. F.