Swedish-born cellist
Daniel Blendulf, a member of the
Z Quartet, joins pianist
Francisca Skoogh for his debut album of
Shostakovich chamber works. The CD opens with the Op. 40 Cello Sonata. Of interest is the fact that the recording engineer and editor for this performance is fellow cellist and Swede
Mats Rondin, who himself has released several successful recordings of cello repertoire. Listeners will at once notice a somewhat peculiar sound quality for an album recorded in 2007. The sound aesthetic almost exactly matches that of the infamous recording of the sonata made by
Rostropovich with
Shostakovich himself at the piano -- the same distant, echoic feeling with a similarly scratchy texture throughout. This is certainly an odd aspect of that great recording to emulate, and some may find it off-putting.
Blendulf's interpretation of the first movement is rather slow and reserved, which lessens the contrast with the augmentation of the theme in the Largo conclusion of the movement. The rest of the work is played with abundant energy.
Blendulf's technique is quite ample, although this does not always shine through due to the recorded sound quality. For the Op. 57 Piano Quintet, there is somewhat of a reversal. Sound quality is much improved: more focus and warmth, and a closer feeling throughout. The performance of the
Z Quartet, however, is inferior to that of
Blendulf by himself. The quartet in general, and the two violins in particular, struggle mightily with intonation difficulties throughout the work, so much so that extended tutti passages are uncomfortable to listen to.