Stephen Pritchard 

Dvorák: Piano Quintet Op 81, String Quartet Op 96, ‘American’ – review

Teo Gheorghiu brings youthful fire to Dvorák but he is up against stiff competition, writes Stephen Pritchard
  
  


Not yet 21, the Swiss-Canadian pianist Teo Gheorghiu brings youthful fire to Dvorák's sublime Piano Quintet Op 81 with the Carmina Quartet – but this release joins a crowded field. The past 12 months have seen new recordings or re-releases of this quintet from the Elias Quartet with Jonathan Biss, the Wihan Quartet with Martin Kasik and the Schubert Ensemble of London. Does this one stand out? Frankly, no, but that's not to say that it's without merit. Gheorghiu and his fellow Swiss players display considerable charm and zest, particularly in the scherzo and finale. And the Carmina handle the pentatonic "American" quartet with real style.

 

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