Hearing this after immersing myself in the Emerson Quartet’s Beethoven cycle, I was struck by how different these two highly accomplished American groups are. The Emersons are always searching for something out of the ordinary, pushing tempos and dynamics to extremes, and trying to give the fullest expression to the music’s individuality. By contrast, the Cleveland Quartet offer fewer surprises; they’re upholders of tradition, rather than seekers after new truths. One of this ensemble’s most notable characteristics is their rich, warm tone, well captured on this latest recording. For the most part, I enjoyed these performances more than their accounts of Opp. 130 and 133 (9/97). The first movement of the A minor Quartet has a level of emotional commitment that’s quite compelling – all the details of this complex music fall into place and contribute to the overall effect. If the rest of the quartet isn’t quite so outstanding it’s still very good, with a lovely swinging rhythm to the second movement, and delightfully sprightly accounts of the Andante episodes in the slow movement – absolutely “feeling new strength”, as Beethoven’s caption puts it. The Emerson, however, create a more telling atmosphere for the “Song of Thanksgiving”, and their account of the finale, at a faster tempo, is more impassioned, as well as more spectacular.
The Cleveland’s Op. 135 is also very impressive. Their fine account of the Scherzo doesn’t quite match the breakneck intensity of the Emerson, but the Lento seems to me more deeply felt, their rich sound really coming into its own. (Is the cello just a touch too loud in the final variation?) And the finale must be one of the best versions on record – spirited, touching, playful, as the music’s mood demands.'