Ravel - String Quartet [Melos Quartett]It was early in 2009 that i played this disc while walking to Church, and this was the first time that Ravel's String Quartet really made an impression on me, and so it's fitting that i again played this work while walking to Church yesterday, there's something about the Melos Quartet that i really find so genuine and true, this disc is slowly become a firm favourite, though the Debussy work is a slightly tougher nut to crack.
The Melos String Quartet are a German Quartet that were active for 40 years from 1965-2005, they recorded almost exclusively for the DG label, the booklet cover is a peach [photo by Annette Lederer], with the Quartet holding large umbrellas [it must have been raining], and that tropical grass can really grow that high, however on closer inspection, i now believe the Quartet were cut out and montaged over a lovely background, but it still works, and for once, the horrible yellow logo is likeable, and adds a dash of colour to the whole thing, they made this recording in 1979.
Here's The Hagen String Quartet playing the second movement on YouTube.
