Schuppanzigh Quartet: Beethoven, Rode

The Strad Issue: May 2025

Description: A period-instrument quartet shines a light on lesser-known repertoire

Musicians: Schuppanzigh Quartet

Works: Beethoven: String Quartet op.95 in F minor ‘Serioso’; Violin Sonata op.96 in G major (arr.Ries). Rode: String Quartet no.4 op.18 in G major

Catalogue number: CPO 5554892

Gems from the Classical repertoire resurrected through the Schuppanzigh Quartet’s searches have included the quartets of Beethoven’s pupil, secretary and copyist Ferdinand Ries, whose quartet arrangement of Beethoven’s op.96 Violin Sonata features on this disc.

Although its thematic material is skilfully distributed across the ensemble, leader Anton Steck’s contribution stands out, especially his controlled nuancing of the second movement’s expressive, long lines, his thoughtful delivery of the finale’s ad libitum passages and his prominent role in the accent-heavy Scherzo.

Ries’s arrangement is bookended by lively accounts of the Fourth Quartet by the sonata’s original recipient, Pierre Rode, and Beethoven’s op.95, characterised in its outer movements by unforced lyricism, fiery bravura and a delightful throwaway major-mode conclusion. The Schuppanzigh also revels in the sforzandos in op.95’s spikily rhythmic scherzo, but offers a fluid, somewhat matter-of-fact interpretation of its Allegretto.

Rode’s quartet reverts to the quatuor concertante style of pre-Revolutionary Paris. Operatic elements also emerge, as in the first movement’s yearning introduction, the central Siciliano’s unusual pizzicato episodes and serenade-like melody with decorated variants and the skittish finale, performed with precision, panache and a fine sense of lyricism. Captured in a church acoustic in 2021, the well-balanced recording has an agreeable period-instrument astringency.

ROBIN STOWELL