The Vermeer Quartet made some outstandingly good recordings, none better than its Teldec traversal of Beethoven’s three Op. 59 “Razumovsky” quartets, recorded in 1988/89. In overall terms, these accounts are very satisfying–pleasingly balanced and conveying plenty of detail. However, occasionally the second violin and viola seem a little recessed, most noticeably in the slow movement of the F major Razumovsky; but the playing remains consistently alert and adroit. While the first quartet is generally well managed–a vigorous Eroica-like opening and a pungent, impulsive scherzo–the slow movement falters, partly because of the variable recording balance, and also because the tempo drags whenever the players (especially the cellist) tease out phrase-lengths in an effort to underline the pathos of Beethoven’s scoring. Although the Vermeer Quartet gives a thrilling account of the finale of Op. 59 No. 3, there are moments of roughness in the playing. You might argue that Beethoven would have expected the music to sound difficult anyway, but cello and viola make heavy weather of some of their fugal entries, so you hear rosin biting the strings in a way that’s never pleasing on the ear.
However, the Vermeers also include a thoughtful and intelligent account of the Op. 74 “Harp” quartet, nicely played once again, though the variations of the finale could have been more intimately and individually characterized. Still, in the context of the overall performances these are fairly minor issues, and if you’re after budget middle-period Beethoven quartets that will continue to satisfy after repeated hearings, this should do nicely.
