Regardless of the strong affection that the up-and-coming Emperor Quartet has for William Walton’s two string quartets, there’s just no way to convince a listener that the English composer missed his true calling by not focusing on chamber music. His two string quartets (the first written in 1922 and the other in 1947) are decidedly not among Walton’s best works, far less confident or focused than some of his compositions in other genres. Even the 25-year span between the two pieces was not enough for Walton to master the form; the 1947 quartet overstays its welcome by restating its ideas far too often.
Be that as it may, this recording still is an excellent calling card for this British ensemble, which was founded in 1992 and went on to win the prestigious Evian International String Quartet Competition a scant three years later. It’s a fine group, with an exemplary sense of ensemble playing and a pointed, deliberately sharp-focused sound. (I’d be curious to hear them in more mainstream repertoire to see how consistent their tone actually is.) And yet the players don’t always keep the lines taut where required; it’s hard to tell if the too-leisurely tempo of the A minor quartet’s Presto is the result of a laid-back approach or sheer timidity. On the other hand, that restraint sometimes works to the music’s advantage, as in the beautifully understated violin solo in the 1947 quartet’s Lento. The close sound lends these works an appropriate warmth and intimacy. However, the ballyhooed “exclusive online extras” for this enhanced CD are easily skipped, as you’re led to the Black Box website for press clippings, a repeat of the CD’s liner notes (!), a brief Walton biography, and links to the rest of the Black Box catalog.
