Volume 25, No.4, March/April 2002 Dvorak String Quartet No. 13 in G,op.106. String Quintet in Eflat, op.97 Pacifica Quartet: Michael Tree, viola By Michael Ullman This is simply a lovely recording, warm in tone, sensitive, artfully played, and yet tastefully rambunctious when such bounce is appropriate. The Pacifica Quartet can make a wide, rich sound, but then first violinist Simin Ganatra will state the second melody of the Allegro moderato of the Quartet in G with a delicately astringent tone that is strangely touching. The quartet seems to be able to play the same melody in half a dozen ways, all effective. Like the Melos playing this work, the Pacifica Quartet makes sense of the sometimes abrupt shifts typical of Dvorak. They get just right the sobriety of the introduction and of the nonetheless folksy melody of the second movement, as well as the wit of the Molto vivace that follows. Michael Tree is added to the quartet for the String Quintet in Eflat, in an equally stirring performance. This young quartet is becoming known for its performances of contemporary music. They make Dvorak sound gorgeously up to date as well.