| Raphael Ensemble Schubert: String Quintet in C major D956 |
"Superlatives become ephemeral and critical criteria moulder into hollow pedantry when applied to an issue of this stature. The Raphael Ensemble's account of Schubert's String Quintet joins a small but illustrious pantheon of truly exceptional recordings of this over subscribed masterwork. The Raphael's assets are mightily impressive; homogeneity of instrumental voicing, rock-solid intonation and ensemble. Hyperion's sound is sensational: inner voices are revealed with outstanding clarity and instrumental balance is faultless..... Keenly responsive to the breadth and magnanimity of the Allegro, The Raphael have an intuitive grasp of the natural gait and eloquence of contrasting incident during the Adagio. Moreover, their chosen tempo is perfect, enabling the yearning discourse of the outer sections to unfold amid entranced stasis. The outraged central episode sounds awesome; fine engineering allows each strand of these histrionic obsequies to register with maximum impact. The Scherzo has galvanic motive verve, while the finale is aptly muscular, although darker premonitions are never deeply concealed. This is playing of unquestionable distinction...." |
B.B.C. Music Magazine, October 1995. |
| Raphael Ensemble Bruckner: |
"It is some time since there was a good new recording of Bruckner's only mature piece of chamber music; here is a very good one indeed, coupled with the Intermezzo movement that Bruckner composed as an alternative to the scherzo when the first performers found his original too difficult, and the prelude for string sextet hat Strauss wrote for his last opera. The Raphael Ensemble deserve high praise and warm thanks for this ardent yet precise account of the work; every dynamic shading and phrase-mark has been carefully considered, yet the first impression is of spontaneity. The recording (St. George's Brandon Hill, Bristol) is atmospheric and unfailingly clear, with no artificial highlighting, and with the players close enough for bow to bite into string, yet set back sufficiently for sniffs and shuffles to be absent. The playing is wonderfully natural, with charm and wit at the close of the trio, and with the various tempos of the finale, (which is attacked from the Adagio without a pause) coherent and indeed happily convincing. Strongly recommended." |
Hi Fi News And Record Review |