There's often a whiff of the unseemly when record labels gather some of their stars to record together--or at least it seems more the result of a sales strategy session than a genuinely worthy idea. Happily, this super release--a follow-up of sorts to the superb disc of Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky that Argerich, Kremer, and Maisky made in 1999--has nothing to do with those cynical excursions. Here we have music-making of the most ebullient and masterful variety, a summit meeting among outstanding artists acting in concert as true partners and peers. Like the best permanent chamber ensembles, these four are clearly listening to each other's every move, and yet there remains a true sense of spontaneity in the performance. Their warmth and depth of feeling is something that groups together for many years should aspire to as well.

Their reading of the Brahms quartet easily ranks among the most exciting performances on disc. The four indulge in the voluptuous curves of the first movement, dance lithely through the lilting intermezzo, and sweetly sing their way through the third-movement Andante. But the real fire and star-bursting intensity comes in the wild concluding Rondo alla Zingarese; this movement alone is worth the cost of admission, and it leaves you wishing for more.

The paired work is Schumann's Fantasiestücke Op. 88 for piano, violin, and cello. While it doesn't quite have the Quartet's spark of brilliance, either in terms of composition or performance, it's still quite satisfying despite a weirdly spidery vibrato that both Maisky and Kremer employ in the first movement. Make no mistake, though: there are plenty of pleasures here, especially in the sprightly Humoreske, in which each note in a series of repeated accents always comes off as a fresh, invigorating, and delightful surprise rather than simply as part of a repetitive string. The sound is also quite realistic and well-balanced. In sum, this is a very satisfying release that leaves us both satisfied and looking forward to the next installment. [2/14/2004]

--Anastasia Tsioulcas