Leipziger Streichquartett, Alois Posch - Dvorák: String Quintet, Op. 77 & String Quartet Op. 96 "American" (2014)

The pairing of the String Quintet in G major, Op. 77, and the String Quartet in F major, Op. 96 ("American"), both major Dvorák chamber works, is a common one, but this one has several aspects setting it apart. Most distinctive is the sound from the German audiophile label MDG, working in an old abbey hall. The space is warm, clear, and perfectly sized for the music, in other words as close as you can get to actually having been there in the late 19th century when the music was first played. Moreover, the prolific Leipzig String Quartet, joined in Op. 77 by double bassist Alois Posch, delivers a superior performance of the "American" quintet that gets away from the overly consistent tone that mars so many Dvorák performances. They give real scenic lyricism to the pentatonic themes in the first movement that constitute the "American" quality, and the scherzo and finale get sharp, angular treatments that emphasize their rhythmic profiles and differentiate them sharply from each other. The Op. 77 quintet is not quite so vigorous, but especially for those with the sound system to appreciate it fully this is a highly recommended Dvorák chamber album.