Streichquartett der Staatskapelle Berlin - Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Puccini - All Music

4.5*

This is the debut release by the Streichquartett der Staatskapelle Berlin, a chamber offshoot of the venerable Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra, and from all indications, the grouping will be a fruitful one. The quartet draws a nice contrast between the highly melodic, almost transcendent lyricism of the Puccini and the more contrapuntal structure of the Verdi, which aimed more toward the grand string quartet tradition. The Tchaikovsky is crisp and balanced.