Very powerful, very passionate, and very, very well played, the
Jerusalem Quartet's 2007 recording of
Shostakovich's Sixth, Eighth, and Eleventh has everything going for it except greatness. While one cannot fault the polished intonation, the cogent ensemble, or the committed interpretations, one also cannot, even with the best will in the world, be moved by the group's efforts. The melancholy lyricism of the Sixth, the agonizing morbidity of the Eighth, and especially the bitter irony of the Eleventh are not so much missing as wall-papered over by the
Jerusalem's highly skilled but essentially lackluster music-making. The result is blandly appealing versions of works that deserve -- indeed, demand -- blood, toil, tears, and sweat. Stick with the classic
Borodin,
Taneyev, or
Shostakovich Quartet recordings. These performances are for listeners who like their
Shostakovich without tears -- which is, in fact, no
Shostakovich at all. Harmonia Mundi's sound is cool, close, and clear.