CLASSICAL

FANNY MENDELSSOHN, STRING QUARTET; FELIX MENDELSSOHN, STRING QUARTETS 2, 6

Takács Quartet

Hyperion CDA 68330 (CD). 2021. Judith Sherman, prod.; Mike Quam, eng.

The big surprise is Fanny Mendelssohn’s Quartet: Hyperion released another recording just two years ago, but here it sounds a stronger piece. The Takács, with its firm bowings, full-bodied tone, and precise intonation, find stature in it that eluded the estimable Nash Ensemble. The first movement, melting and incisive by turns, still sounds like a warmup for the second, a bouncy scherzo relieved by legato and contrapuntal passages. The Romanze, more intricate than I’d remembered, still sings simply; violinist Edward Dusinberre’s pinpoint tuning makes his high lines soar. And the players smoothly elide the moto perpetuo finale’s bustling first theme into the second’s accompaniment, maintaining buoyancy as the arching phrases build in the home stretch. It’s rather impressive.

These two of Felix’ss scurrying . Both slow movements are carefully gauged, landing this side of sentimental.