This disc completes the Martinu Quartet's excellent traversal of its namesake's complete works for string quartet and also offers some of the composer's best music in this medium. The Fourth Quartet is a sunny, charming work in four movements, while the Concerto de Camera (Seventh Quartet) has become relatively popular for its buoyancy and lyricism as an example of the composer's late style. The Fifth Quartet is Martinu's major statement in the genre: it belongs to the same closely argued and often anguished idiom as the Concerto for Double String Orchestra, Piano, and Timpani, but at nearly half an hour in length (and four movements) it's even larger than the orchestral work.


As noted in my previous reviews, the reference recording for these works remains the Panocha Quartet's complete set on Supraphon, but these performances are just as good, and if the Martinu Quartet lacks its compatriot's trademark creamy smoothness of tone, it certainly enjoys the same qualities of top to bottom equality of ensemble, keen rhythmic sense, and a sure understanding of the idiom. Timings are quite similar for both groups in these works, save for the finale of the Fifth Quartet, which the Panochas take about a minute faster--but certainly there's no sense of sluggishness in this newcomer and some listeners may prefer a darker, weightier approach: it serves the music just as well. Ideally natural recorded sound rounds out this fine release, certainly a jewel in Naxos' chamber music crown. [7/19/2003]
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com