专辑简介

Review by James Leonard

Sensitive might be the best word to use in describing the Coull Quartet's 1993 recordings of the string quartets of Elgar and Walton coupled with the Three Idylls for string quartet by Frank Bridge. Or at least the kindest: while one cannot dispute the fact that the Coull Quartet grasps the emotional core of each movement of each work, one also cannot allow the fact that the Coull's performance of each movement of each work is also to a greater or lesser extent technically flawed. The Coull's Elgar quartet is deeply lyrical and warmly autumnal -- but also not quite in tune and not quite together. The Coull's Bridge Idylls are wonderfully expressive and affectionately emotional -- but also not entirely tight and not especially cogent. The Coull's Walton quartet, the weakest of the three performances, is possibly a tad too tepid and perhaps a shade too gray -- but also not exactly precise and not particularly forceful. So while anyone who knows and loves these works will enjoy this disc for its many virtues, the Coull's not completely convincing performances may not be ultimately satisfying. Hyperion's digital sound is cool, deep, and round.