Founded in 1964 and as well known for recordings of contemporary music as for recordings of standard repertoire, the
Nash Ensemble here adds another superb disc to its ample discography with these 2005 and 2006 recordings of
Mozart's piano quartets. With sweet-toned string players -- violinist
Marianne Thorsen, violist
Lawrence Power, and cellist
Paul Watkins -- plus suave pianist
Ian Brown forming a smooth and sophisticated ensemble, the
Nash leans more toward the tender and warmhearted
Mozart then toward the bright and clear-eyed
Mozart. Still, the playing is brilliant, the balances are graceful, and the interpretations are persuasive, so in the end, the performance is entirely entertaining and sometimes, as in the G minor Quartet's opening Allegro and the E flat major Quartet's central Larghetto, even quite moving. While old-time listeners may already have one or more favorite recordings of these standard chamber ensemble repertoire works -- there are the classic
Beaux Arts Trio recordings and the legendary
George Szell/Budapest recording of the G minor among many, many others -- anyone who already knows the works will surely enjoy this -- and anyone who doesn't already know the works could surely come to enjoy them through the
Nash's performances. ASV's digital sound is close but cool and full but detailed.