Naxos £5.86

***

At his best, Faure is among the most sophisticated and refined of all composers. And those qualities are enshrined in his two wonderful Piano Quintets, which receive bright and loving performances here from pianist Christina Ortiz and the Fine Arts Quartet. The rippling arpeggio opening to the first quintet cascades around the murmuring theme that unfolds its limbs luxuriously, while the music of the finale epitomises the subtlety of Faure’s supreme craftsmanship. Great performances, streaming with finesse and élan. I have one qualification: to these ears, the Fine Arts Quartet’s playing has a grainy quality that is at odds with the polish of the music.