Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

“Elegant yet full-bodied playing by this veteran quartet, with all the details of Mozart's phrasing and dynamic contrasts thoughtfully highlighted, if occasionally sounding a touch self-conscious.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2006 ****

“This is the best Mozart quartet playing I have heard come out of America” CD Review

“Yaara Tal and Andreas Groethuysen live and breathe as one on these two wonderful discs in which every performance emerges not merely as 'the best' (if we're talking critical comparisons) but life-affirming. Technically, each fiddly ornament, every phrase shape and every degree of pedalling is miraculously co-ordinated – not that one is ever made aware of such prosaic elements for the music simply flows, newly minted, in joyous, stylish effusion. Here are Wolfgang and Nannerl having a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, smiling and winking to each other as they negotiate some of the more mischievous twists and turns.
The final movement of the B flat Sonata, K358, has rarely bubbled along like this, while the F major Sonata, K497, confirms its place as a masterpiece with its passages of eerie Schubertian prescience. The playing of this duo marks a clear if subtle distinction between one that comes together occasionally for festivals and recordings, and one that does it every day as a vocation.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“Yaara Tal and Andreas Groethuysen live and breathe as one on these two wonderful discs in which every performance emerges not merely as "the best" (if we're talking critical comparisons) but life-affirming. The final movement of the B flat Sonata, K358, has rarely bubbled along like this, while the F major Sonata, K497, confirms its place as a masterpiece with its passages of eerie Schubertian prescience.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2006

“In Mackerras's case, the precision of the articulation, the consistent attention to note lengths and values which gives his interpretation a wonderful buoyancy while allowing for the required moments of repose and/or passion. He gains trim, finely moulded playing from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and lovely singing from its associated Chorus.” Alan Blyth, Gramophone Magazine

“Mackerras is a magician in Mozart...This was a theatrical performance pulsating with wit and emotion…” Sunday Times

“What makes these recordings so fascinating is that this is just when Gilels was making his first appearances outside the USSR…The Schumann is born out of oppressive darkness. There is an organic growth to the first movement that feels unstoppable…The Brahms Quartet is if anything even more stunning musically…The Prokofiev almost defies criticism, however, imbued with astonishing drive. This is Gilels on home territory…the Rachmaninov grand yet tender, Islamey full of all-out virtuosity. A fascinating document of a truly great pianist.” Colin Clarke, International Piano

'Anyone who has heard the Fauré Quartett will want to hear them again.' - Martha Argerich