German quartets tend to play this music well, for some reason. The Melos Quartet’s DG version has been a reference edition for years, and this recording just might become a classic given some additional time. The Alban Bergers play both pieces with dazzling security that’s especially evident in the two scherzos, and in the blazing finale of the Ravel. As always with this group, precision seems to take precedence over warmth, and some listeners may prefer a more overtly Romantic view of Debussy’s slow movement (a little emotional detachment suits the Ravel to a tee), but really there’s very little here to criticize, and the addition of the slight but equally well-played Stravinsky items only increases the disc’s appeal. The sonics are superbly clear but still a bit too close to the instruments for ideal comfort–remastering hasn’t changed that a bit.
