Korngold String Quartet No. 2 & No. 3—Alma Quartet—Challenge Records D2D vinyl

This 2022 release by Holland’s Alma Quartet (formed in 2014) is one of a slew of direct-to-disc (D2D) vinyl records to arrive at the office recently.

The recording format is a series of hair-raising 15 or 20-minute sessions without edits; live to tape, with the recording cut directly into the master lacquer. No “fixing it in the mix”.

No worries, here. The Alma Quartet lays down two stunning performances of Korngold string quartets and receives the most magical recording to boot. And the immediacy and musical connections the 2D2 recording provides only sweeten the deal.

I’m a huge admirer and student of the film music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897–1957), less so his admittedly expert and now very popular concert works. After initial success and subsequent decline, his operas are now being produced in major houses to great acclaim. He also wrote a fabulous violin concerto which is in the repertoire of all the major concert violinists. Not forgetting his piano sonata written when he was 13, premiered by Schnabel and presented to Mahler & Strauss, both of whom proclaimed him a genius.

The String Quartet No.2, Op.26 (1933) was composed just before his big move to Warner Brothers. The String Quartet No.3, Op.34 (1945) is much darker and formal yet just as expressive as the sunny, tuneful 2nd Quartet. By 1945, Korngold was suffering from depression and his dark mood shaped the music. Yet like his violin concerto, the 3rd borrows themes from his film music, most effectively the opening moment from his, and my, favourite score, Between Two Worlds.

The Alma’s playing of the String Quartet No.2 is sublime and completely idiomatic. The players embody the Vienna string sound and lighter style of Richard Strauss but capture the essence of Korngold in his wonderful pre-Hollywood days. The quartet’s sound is both luminous and translucent. Much of the music would fit perfectly into one of Korngold’s great scores such as Kings Row, moody, mournful, playful, and jubilant. For me, a great compliment.

The 3rd Quartet also receives an immaculate performance, with both viola and cello digging down to represent the mood of the composer. As you listen, you’ll be reminded of the Alma Quartet’s extraordinary skill in playing a flawless performance but also of the musical journey. Not an easy feat when even the greatest players recording in D2D are focussing on notes, intonation and ensemble.

This is especially true of the nervous and difficult scherzo, sounding like early Schoenberg visits Bernard Hermann.

The long and elegiac slow movement quotes from Korngold’s score to The Sea Wolf liberally. It ends with a finale—headlong, rushing, almost moto perpetuo to a final few quotes from the scherzo and slow movement before very satisfying D major final bars.

The Challenge vinyl pressing is silent and the deep black background ensures nothing is missed.

There are other good recordings of Korngold quartets by the Chilingarian and Doric Quartets, but both are supplanted by this extraordinary new D2D from the Alma Quartet and Challenge Records. Very highly recommended.