Ernest Chausson’s work has become something of a subspecialty for the Chilingirian Quartet: they have recorded two other discs of his chamber works for Hyperion, both (rightfully) highly acclaimed. Of the two works presented here, the Chausson is a particular treat, in both style and substance. Unfortunately, it stands as Chausson’s only venture into the genre, and an incomplete one at that: the composer died in 1899 in a strange bicycling accident. Vincent d’Indy completed the third movement, and his efforts seem both hasty and heavy-handed, unintentionally forming a sort of rebuke to the elegance and subtlety that characterizes Chausson’s own work. In contrast, D’Indy’s first quartet is certainly a finely crafted vehicle, but one in which technical correctness stultifies emotional outpouring.
Still, the Chilingirians’ characteristic flair and finesse make for compelling listening. In performing French repertoire from this era, many artists enjoy blurring the contours of the individual musical voices, creating a wash of colors and sonority theoretically meant to highlight the work’s “Gallic” qualities (even if, as is the case here, a given composition happens to predate Impressionism). Commendably, the Chilingirians etch each line with stunning clarity, yet they never lose sight of the larger formal picture. The recording’s sound is rich and warm, a fine complement to the group’s artistic vision.
