Not many listeners disagree with the notion that
Mstislav Rostropovich was the pre-eminent Russian cello soloist of the second half of the twentieth century, with dozens of virtually definitive recordings to his credit. For some,
Rostropovich was also one of the best Russian conductors of the second half of the twentieth century, with a number of exciting recordings to his credit. For very few, however,
Rostropovich was one of the better chamber music players of the second half of the twentieth century, with only a few decent recordings to his credit. This 1977 Deutsche Grammophon recording of Schubert's String Quintet with the Melos Quartet is one of those few chamber music recordings -- but whether it's decent or not is up to the listener.
Rostropovich's boosters may feel that his robust tone and muscular technique energizes the Melos' more reticent tone and more reserved technique; whereas to others, he will be simply overpowering. Many listeners may feel this disc constitutes one of the finest recordings of Schubert's quintet ever made, however for those with a more prescient and restrained taste in Schubert, it will be one of the worst. Given
Rostropovich's reputation, for very few will it be merely ignorable. DG's late stereo sound is very clear, clean, and real.