There have been so many superb recordings of this iconic masterwork that there’s simply no room for second best, and this performance is definitely not great. The only issue with pacing occurs in the Adagio, which is a touch too quick to convey an ideally rapt quality in its outer sections. At the same time, the first violin sounds timid and hesitant rather than seraphic. It’s pretty disappointing, and in the end simply dull.
As for the rest, the main issue (for me anyway) concerns the sonority of the ensemble more generally. Of course, the Arcanto Quartett plays well, but the performance seems to suffer from a restricted dynamic range and dearth of accent that gives the first movement’s second subject a precious, dainty quality rather than a natural cantabile, and that fails to capture those gutsy, slashing chords in the scherzo. The finale also is fleet but ultimately somewhat spineless. The sonics are fine, but as I said, there are too many excellent versions of this piece for anyone to have to tolerate anything less.
