‘Souvenir de Posen’ from the Meccore String Quartet

A Reputation Only Few Can Hope to Attain.

The Meccore String Quartet has built a concert hall reputation that only few can hope to attain. In their home country recognised as ‘the best Polish string quartet’, they also have garnered acclaim after acclaim on many international stages. Their recent tour in The Netherlands, so I hear, was a great success with standing ovations.

Established in 2007, The Meccore String Quartet has won many hearts among classical music collectors with a small yet enviable number of widely appreciated recordings. It’s now high time for a quantum leap into the perfectionist world of High Resolution, reaching out to an audience of connoisseurs who accept nothing but the best. 

Fascinating is a weak Description.

For me, it’s no secret that the best productions come from labels managed by ‘music lovers’ rather than ‘music factories’ merely focused on commercial results. Prelude Classics label manager and executive producer, Michał Bryła, has recently joined the ranks of those music-loving producers. Like the previous two, this third album won’t fail to impress with its musicality, impeccable engineering and not least a smart choice of repertoire. Both Wieniawski (Józef, not Henryk) and Paderewski (World Premiere) are Firsts in the High-Res domain. 

Perhaps not core repertoire for many, but hearing these melodious works in the Meccore String Quartet’s reading, one will definitely be won over; at least, I was. Fascinating is a weak description of the verve and emotional depth with which these Polish musicians interpret their national heroes. A more than welcome addition to our library.

Listening is More Convincing than Words Can Express.

It dawned on me that more than words (and, let it be said:  ChatGPT-generated texts) can express, it is indeed by listening that one fully appreciates the sheer beauty these four players elicit from their period instruments; some are copies (by Krzysztof Krupa), but the first violinist, Wojciech Koprowski, uses (Henryk) Wieniawski’s own instrument (1846 Ch. F. Gand, père) from the collection of the National Museum in Poznan, Poland. 

Much of their persuasive charm may also be attributed to them having the right mindset and proper genes to understand the West Slavic soul of both composers, resulting in positive emotion coming from the heart rather than from artificially dramatized excitement. The opulent engagement in the performance lends both works more weight than the score suggests at first sight reading. 

Striving to reach the Summit of Excellence.

Drawing parallels with other String Quartets can be hazardous. Still, when I compare Meccore with the late Alban Berg Quartet, my conclusion is that whilst interplay and virtuosity are of a similar and technically excellent standard, the Meccores add some of the missing human compassion. 

Moreover, with advances in modern recording, the Meccore String Quartet has the advantage of a more realistic sound picture with a discrete surround projection. The recorded level is high. So, be warned and be modest with the volume setting to keep ‘presence’ in the upper strings under control. 

Summing it up: This release is a lucid example of a String Quartet that doesn’t sit on its laurels but keeps striving to reach the summit of excellence. The balance between the players is exemplary, as is the accuracy in tone and phrasing of each. I’ve greatly enjoyed the “Souvenirs of Posen” and I’m pretty sure you will like it as much. 

Blangy-le-Château, Normandy, France.

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