This is a loving and beautiful recording of
Brahms' C minor String Quartet and G major String Quintet, though youthful in its level of understanding. The
Belcea Quartet plays with its customarily lean tone and strong ensemble, and there is manifest affection for
Brahms in the air, particularly during the quartet's Romance and the quintet's closing Vivace. However, compared with performances by the
Amadeus Quartet or the
Alban Berg Quartet, to name just two examples, these recordings lack emotional impact and insight into
Brahms' more introspective nature. This is particularly odd in the quintet, where the
Belcea Quartet is joined by
Thomas Kakuska, the former violist of the
Alban Berg Quartet.