The Quartetto David's Cherubini cycle concludes with this excellent disc containing the composer's last two quartets. Their playing is up to the very high standards of the series thus far, and features impeccable phrasing, optimal balances, and a truly enlivening sense of rhythm. This last quality not only gives the finales a welcome jolt of energy and minimizes any suspicion of academicism in the often busy contrapuntal writing, but it also carries the listener through both of the long opening movements, in which the "moderato" stipulation might otherwise offer a temptation to allow the music to bog down. In truth, these works are excellently proportioned: Cherubini compensates for the broad beginnings by writing relatively brief, aria-like slow movements and highly developed scherzos and finales. The music thus builds in excitement as each quartet progresses, and the Quartetto David's characterful response ideally captures the increase in tension and brilliance. Recorded sound is outstanding too. This is clearly the finest cycle of Cherubini's quartets currently available.

--David Hurwitz