IN ACCORD (DVD) Kronos Quartet ArtHaus 100 050 £££

It always seemed obvious that the Kronos Quartet would be among the very first classical artists to make the transition to DVD and this disc draws together many strands of their work since they began back in 1973. What perhaps the group did not know at the time of recording was that In Accord, released in 1998, would also be one of their final recording projects as a quartet that had been unchanged for some 20 years, their cellist, the hugely talented Joan Jeanrenaud, leaving the following year.

So, a fitting testament to their work pioneering new forms of composition for the string quartet? Actually, I can’t help feeling not. For me, it is an opportunity missed. What is presented on this DVD is, as far as I can tell, merely a commissioned-for-TV one hour profile selecting specially-recorded performances of key works from their career intercut with brief interviews with the players. That’s it … (apart from German and French subtitle options) …no extras taking advantage of the features offered by DVD – multiple angles, overlaid music, background featurettes, audio commentaries (admittedly extras which ArtHaus has signalled as targets for later releases). What’s more we only really get excerpts of the works, not complete pieces.

The filming, directed by Manfred Waffender, is certainly in keeping with the Kronos’s normal popped-up coloured lights and effervescent style – although a continual use of out of focus shots of the quartet is unnecessarily intrusive. The sound, though only in stereo and not digital surround, is crisp and clear. A comprehensive 34 page inlay booklet and a delightful main menu screen – with a sequence of gradually fading photo shots of the quartet – were welcome touches.

So this disc marks the end of one chapter for the Kronos Quartet. But it helps mark the opening of a chapter in the development of the exciting ArtHaus Musik label – one that I know they will be keen to improve upon in a long list of exciting releases that we will bring to you in future editions of the Online Journal.

Andrew Lucas