Review: Schumann – String Quartets, Piano Quintet – Quatuor Hanson, Adam Laloum

This Harmonia Mundi double album presents all three of Schumann‘s String Quartets, Op. 41, alongside his Piano Quintet, composed in the same year (1842). For the Quartets, listeners will likely draw comparisons to the celebrated recordings by the Zehetmair Quartet, whose interpretation of the first and third quartets significantly reshaped our understanding of these works.

Quatuor Hanson offers a more polished sound. While this approach makes the first quartet less haunted compared to the Zehetmair’s version, the overall quality and committed playing provide ample compensation. Their interpretations exhibit a touch of warm Romanticism with well-placed vibrato. Tempos are skillfully chosen, and instrument balance is superb, aided by a close, clear recording that avoids sounding clinical.

Pianist Adam Laloum joins the Quatuor Hanson for the Piano Quintet. Traditionally, many performances have treated this work as a de facto piano concerto with string quartet accompaniment. Listeners expecting such an approach might be surprised by Laloum’s integration with the ensemble, prioritizing a chamber music approach where the piano truly blends within the group. In this sense, his interpretation aligns more closely with Pires than Argerich, referencing two other renowned performers of the piece.

Interestingly, the balance achieved here leans closer to period-instrument recordings, such as those by the Michelangeli Quintet, who utilize a fortepiano (this album’s booklet does not specify Laloum’s instrument). Once one’s ear adjusts to this approach, the consistency of balance and the thoughtful, synchronized interpretation across all musicians become evident.

As with Quatuor Hanson’s previous Haydn project (reviewed here), not all listeners will agree with every interpretative decision. However, the results are consistently engaging and warrant repeated listening.

Recommended Comparisons

Zehetmair | Pires | Argerich | Michelangeli

Schumann
String Quartets No. 1-3, Op. 41
Piano Quintet, Op. 42
Quatuor Hanson
Adam Laloum – Piano

Included with an Apple Music subscription:

Latest Classical Music Posts