The
Adaskin String Trio, consisting of violinist Emlyn Ngai, violist Steve Larson, and cellist Mark Fraser, is a polished and cohesive group, and pianist
Sally Pinkas is a refined player with a gift for chamber music. There is little to criticize on a technical level in their recording of Fauré's two piano quartets, but the performances lack a strong interpretive profile. Fauré's transparent take on Romanticism here sounds like it could have been written by one of the lesser German middle Romantics, which is to say it's heavy on tone and texture, light on expressivity and wit. There is subtlety here and many enjoyable moments, but the quartets are not as persuasive as they might be if the group had more clearly articulated Fauré's unique combination of reticence and passion. MSR Classics' digital recording is close and a tad on the thick side.