Last Quartets 12-15

On this CD:

1. String Quartet No. 14 in D minor ("Death and the Maiden"), D. 810
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Peter Buck, Wilhelm Melcher, Melos-Quartett Stuttgart, Gerhard Voss, Hermann Voss

2. String Quartet No. 13 in A minor ("Rosamunde"), D. 804 (Op. 29)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Peter Buck, Wilhelm Melcher, Melos-Quartett Stuttgart, Gerhard Voss, Hermann Voss

3. String Quartet No. 15 in G major, D. 887 (Op. posth. 161)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Peter Buck, Wilhelm Melcher, Melos-Quartett Stuttgart, Gerhard Voss, Hermann Voss

4. String Quartet No. 12 in C minor ("Quartettsatz"), D. 703
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Peter Buck, Wilhelm Melcher, Melos-Quartett Stuttgart, Gerhard Voss, Hermann Voss

Last Quartets 12-15, Music, Schubert, Melos Quartet, Classical, Classical Music

Schubert: The Last Four Quartets
Average customer rating:

I love this cd!

As good as it gets

Good Value, But Hardly the Best Recording

Flawed "Death and the Maiden"

Legendary Italians

Schubert: The Last Four Quartets
Franco Rossi , Franz Schubert , Piero Farulli , Elisa Pegreffi , Paolo Borciani , and Quartetto Italiano
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 76, Nos. 4, 5 and 6

ASIN: B0000041BX
Release Date: 1995-04-11

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 14 In D Minor, D. 810 'Death And The Maiden': 1. Allegro
String Quartet No. 14 In D Minor, D. 810 'Death And The Maiden': 2. Andante con moto
String Quartet No. 14 In D Minor, D. 810 'Death And The Maiden': 3. Scherzo. Allegro molto
String Quartet No. 14 In D Minor, D. 810 'Death And The Maiden': 4. Presto
String Quartet No. 13 In A Minor, D. 804 'Rosamunde': 1. Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 13 In A Minor, D. 804 'Rosamunde': 2. Andante
String Quartet No. 13 In A Minor, D. 804 'Rosamunde': 3. Menuetto
String Quartet No. 13 In A Minor, D. 804 'Rosamunde': 4. Allegro moderato

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 15 In G, D. 887: 1. Allegro molto moderato
String Quartet No. 15 In G, D. 887: 2. Andante un poco moto
String Quartet No. 15 In G, D. 887: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
String Quartet No. 15 In G, D. 887: 4. Allegro Assai
String Quartet No. 12 In C Minor, D. 703 'Quartettsatz': 1. Allegro assai

Amazon.com

Few quartets match this legendary Italian ensemble for tonal sheen and refinement. The ensemble imbues the famous variations movement of "Death and the Maiden" with a kind of choked inwardness that never dematerializes into bathos. One might wish the players to allow Schubert's extroverted moments their giddy head, rather than reigning things in. The group embarks upon the composer's other-worldly G Major Quartet with quiet, trembling tread, making you work with them as they divine the music's visionary beauties and dark truths. Listen to this performance in a quiet space, with the lights out. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

I love this cd!.......2007-02-16

How can people give this less than 4 stars!? The performance by the Quartetto Italiano is great. Very confident and powerful playing. If you like "in your face" recordings you will like this. Very close miked and "hot" sound. Clearly played and wonderfully recorded. There may be better individual recordings, but as a set of four this is a stone cold bargain. I would highly recommend this cd.

As good as it gets.......2007-02-11

I had not come across the Quartetto Italiano before which is not so surprising as these recordings were made 30 - 40 years ago. However it is a great delight to find them as their playing delightfully taut and energetic. Maybe the tempo is a little slower than expected in the Andante of the G major quartet but it still brings out some wonderful highlights.
It would be surprising to find a btter recording anywhere.
Phil Rowe

Good Value, But Hardly the Best Recording.......2005-09-02

When I like a body of work by a composer, I collect many different recordings. For me, Schubert's late string quartets are perfect. I own several versions including the Melos Quartet and the Auryn Quartet. This Philips recording is a recent addition, and while it is a fair value, the sound is mediocre and the interpretation is irritating to me(every movement is slow, slow, slow).

Try to find a copy of the Auryn Quartet if you can. The recordings are magnificent and the music is perfect.

Flawed "Death and the Maiden".......2005-06-03

I am surprised that Alan Lekan ("Legendary Italians" 5/31/05) is the only reviewer to comment on the "booming" or thumping sound that appears throughout quartet number 14 regardless of the quality of playback equipment. Although the performances are outstanding Philips should never have released this recording, or at least not without a warning. Recommended purchase only to those who have other versions of #14.

Legendary Italians.......2005-05-31

The great composer Franz Schubert is often talked about as a "late bloomer," referring to how his last compositions emerged with great maturity, emotional complexity and consumate skill. These last four quartets are part of this final, masterful phase of Schubert's short life as a composer and should be in every chamber-music collector's shelf.

Among the finest performances of these great quartets stands the recordings here from the legendary Quartetto Italiano - one of the top quartets in the 60's and 70's. The Quartetto Italiano really have a nack for penetrating the depths of such emotive works as #14 or #15 and bring out the intended drama and pathos within. Their powerful reading of the great, last quartet in G (#15) is especially noted by many major reviewers as one of the finest recordings of this complex masterpiece. The first movement in particular is epic in scale (lasting some 25 minutes) and exudes a powerful, anguished emotional mood which the Italianos bring out with tremedous depth and passion that can send chills down your spine. In all, their playing is of the highest caliber and just sounds superb in terms of synchonicity, intonation and phrasing. Their unison within cresendos is impeccable as was their ability to create sonorities on a "symphonic scale."

However, I found one quirky sonic flaw throughout the entire "Death and the Maiden" and other quartets when listening with headphones: there was an intermittent and jarring "booming" sound that is quite distracting. It is probably not be an issue without headphones, but be forewarned nevertheless. Overall, the sound quality is very good but not perfect given the transfer to CD from the 1960's analog tapes. There is not quite the depth and realism of more modern recordings in general, but this should not discourage purchase for most.

Other quartets to consider for these works are the Guarnari Quartet and, in some works, the Emersons - although the Emerson's style is more "direct" and less "old world graceful" like the Alban Berg's or lyrically soaring like the Quartetto Italiano's overall sound. The Quatuor Mosaiques also recorded a powerful reading of the Rosamunde quartet and others that ranks with the best. All-in-all, I would say the Italianos is of the finest SETS of Schubert's greatest (last) quartets - although some individual quartets may be better represented by other ensembles. When I hear music of this stature, it reminds me how unfortunate it was for Schubert that his enormous talent and output was not recognized and valued in his day. And these last quartets are only a small part of that heritage.

Average customer rating:

Lively, colourful
Sizzles!
just an amazing performance
just an amazing performance
No Op. 3's & 681 quartets?

Haydn: The String Quartets

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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ASIN: B0000042GO
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 0: I. Presto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 0: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 0: III. Adagio
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 0: IV. Menuetto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 0: V. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1: I. Presto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1: III. Adagio
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1: IV. Menuetto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1: V. Presto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 2: I. Allegro
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 2: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 2: III. Adagio
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 2: IV. Menuetto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 2: V. Presto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 1 No. 3: I. Adagio
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 1 No. 3: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 1 No. 3: III. Presto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 1 No. 3: IV. Menuetto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 1 No. 3: V. Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In G Major, Op. 1 No. 4: I. Presto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 1 No. 4: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 1 No. 4: III. Adagio Ma Non Tanto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 1 No. 4: IV. Menuetto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 1 No. 4: V. Presto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 1 No. 6: I. Presto Assai
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 1 No. 6: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 1 No. 6: III. Adagio
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 1 No. 6: IV. Menuetto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 1 No. 6: V. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 2 No. 1: I. Allegro
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 2 No. 1: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 2 No. 1: III. Adagio
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 2 No. 1: IV. Menuetto
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 2 No. 1: V. Allegro Molto

Tracks:

String Quartet In E Major, Op. 2 No. 2: I. Allegro Molto
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 2 No. 2: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 2 No. 2: III. Adagio
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 2 No. 2: IV. Menuetto
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 2 No. 2: V. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 2 No. 4: I. Presto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 2 No. 4: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 2 No. 4: III. Adagio
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 2 No. 4: IV. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 2 No. 4: V. Allegro
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 2 No. 6: I. Adagio
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 2 No. 6: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 2 No. 6: III. Presto: Scherzo
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 2 No. 6: IV. Menuetto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 2 No. 6: V. Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Major, Op. 9 No. 1: I. Moderato
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 9 No. 1: II. Menuetto: Un Poco Allegretto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 9 No. 1: III. Adagio
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 9 No. 1: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2: I. Moderato
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2: III. Adagio
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2: IV. Finale: Allegro Molto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 9 No. 3: I. Allegro Moderato
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 9 No. 3: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 9 No. 3: III. Largo
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 9 No. 3: IV. Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 9 No. 4: String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 9 No. 4: I. Moderato
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 9 No. 4: String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 9 No. 4: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 9 No. 4: String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 9 No. 4: III. Adagio Cantabile
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 9 No. 4: String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 9 No. 4: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 5: String Quarter In B Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 5: I. Poco Adagio
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 5: String Quarter In B Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 5: II. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 5: String Quarter In B Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 5: III. Largo Cantabile
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 5: String Quarter In B Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 5: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 9 No. 6: String Quartet In A Major, Op. 9 No. 6: I. Presto
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 9 No. 6: String Quartet In A Major, Op. 9 No. 6: II. Menuetto
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 9 No. 6: String Quartet In A Major, Op. 9 No. 6: III. Adagio
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 9 No. 6: String Quartet In A Major, Op. 9 No. 6: IV. Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In E Major, Op. 17 No. 1: I. Moderato
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 17 No. 1: II. Menuet
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 17 No. 1: III. Adagio
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 17 No. 1: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 17 No. 2: I. Moderato
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 17 No. 2: II. Menuet: Poco Allegretto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 17 No. 2: III. Adagio
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 17 No. 2: IV. Finale: Allegro Di Molto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 17 No. 3: I. Andante Grazioso
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 17 No. 3: II. Menuet: Allegretto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 17 No. 3: III. Adagio
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 17 No. 3: IV. Allegro Di Molto

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 17 No. 4: I. Moderato
String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 17 No. 4: II. Minuet: Allegretto
String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 17 No. 4: III. Adagio Cantabile
String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 17 No. 4: IV. Finale: Allegro
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 17 No. 5: I. Moderato
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 17 No. 5: II. Menuet: Allegretto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 17 No. 5: III. Adagio
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 17 No. 5: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 17 No. 6: I. Presto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 17 No. 6: II. Menuet
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 17 No. 6: III. Largo
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 17 No. 6: IV. Finale: Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 20 No. 1: I. Allegro Moderato
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 20 No. 1: II. Menuet: Un Poco Allegretto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 20 No. 1: III. Affettuoso E Sostenuto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 20 No. 1: IV. Presto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 20 No. 2: I. Moderato
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 20 No. 2: II. Capriccio: Adagio
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 20 No. 2: III. Menuet: Allegretto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 20 No. 2: IV. Fuga A 4 Soggetti: Allegro
String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 20 No. 3: I. Allegro Con Spirito
String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 20 No. 3: II. Menuet: Allegretto
String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 20 No. 3: III. Poco Adagio
String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 20 No. 3: IV. Allegro Di Molto

Tracks:

String Quartet In D Major, Op. 20 No. 4: I. Allegro Di Molto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 20 No. 4: II. Un Poco Adagio E Affettuoso
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 20 No. 4: III. Menuet Alla Zingarese
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 20 No. 4: IV. Presto E Scherzando
String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 20 No. 5: I. Moderato
String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 20 No. 5: II. Menuet
String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 20 No. 5: III. Adagio
String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 20 No. 5: IV. Fuga A 2 Soggetti
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 20 No. 6: I. Allegro Di Molto E Scherzando
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 20 No. 6: II. Adagio
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 20 No. 6: III. Menuet
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 20 No. 6: IV. Fuga A 3 Soggetti: Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 33 No. 1: I. Allegro
String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 33 No. 1: II. Scherzo: Allegro
String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 33 No. 1: III. Andante
String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 33 No. 1: IV. Presto
String Quartet In E-flat Major, Op. 33 No. 2: I. Allegro moderato, cantabile
String Quartet In E-flat Major, Op. 33 No. 2: II. Scherzo: Allegro
String Quartet In E-flat Major, Op. 33 No. 2: III. Largo sostenuto
String Quartet In E-flat Major, Op. 33 No. 2: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In C Major, op. 33 No. 3: I. Allegro moderato
String Quartet In C Major, op. 33 No. 3: II. Scherzo: Allegretto
String Quartet In C Major, op. 33 No. 3: III. Adagio
String Quartet In C Major, op. 33 No. 3: IV. Rondo: Presto
String Quartet In B-flat Major, Op. 33 No. 4: I. Allegro moderato
String Quartet In B-flat Major, Op. 33 No. 4: II. Scherzo: Allegretto
String Quartet In B-flat Major, Op. 33 No. 4: III. Largo
String Quartet In B-flat Major, Op. 33 No. 4: IV. Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In G Major, Op. 33 No. 5: I. Vivace Assai
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 33 No. 5: II. Largo E Cantabile
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 33 No. 5: III. Scherzo: Allegro
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 33 No. 5: IV. Finale: Allegretto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 33 No. 6: I. Vivace Assai
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 33 No. 6: II. Andante
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 33 No. 6: III. Scherzo: Allegretto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 33 No. 6: IV. Finale: Allegretto
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 42: I. Andante Ed Innocentemente
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 42: II. Menuet
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 42: III. Adagio E Cantabile
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 42: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 50 No. 1: I. Allegro
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 50 No. 1: II. Adagio Non Lento
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 50 No. 1: III. Poco Allegretto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 50 No. 1: IV. Finale: Vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Major, Op. 50 No. 2: I. Vivace
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 50 No. 2: II. Adagio Cantabile
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 50 No. 2: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 50 No. 2: IV. Finale: Vivace Assai
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 50 No. 3: I. Allegro Con Brio
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 50 No. 3: II. Andante Piu Tosto Allegretto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 50 No. 3: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 50 No. 3: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 50 No. 4: I. Allegro Spirituoso
String Quartet In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 50 No. 4: II. Andante
String Quartet In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 50 No. 4: III. Menuetto
String Quartet In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 50 No. 4: IV. Fuga: Allegro Moderato

Tracks:

String Quartet In F Major, Op. 50 No. 5: I. Allegro Moderato
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 50 No. 5: II. Poco Adagio
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 50 No. 5: III. Menuetto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 50 No. 5: IV. Finale: Vivace
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 50 No. 6: I. Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 50 No. 6: II. Poco Adagio
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 50 No. 6: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 50 No. 6: IV. Finale: Allegro Con Spirito
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 54 No. 1: I. Vivace Assai
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 54 No. 1: II. Allegretto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 54 No. 1: III. Menuet
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 54 No. 1: IV. Vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Major, Op. 54 No. 2: I. Vivace
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 54 No. 2: II. Adagio
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 54 No. 2: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 54 No. 2: IV. Adagio
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 54 No. 3: I. Allegretto
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 54 No. 3: II. Largo
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 54 No. 3: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 54 No. 3: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 55 No. 1: I. Allegro
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 55 No. 1: II. Adagio cantabile
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 55 No. 1: III. Menuet
String Quartet In A Major, Op. 55 No. 1: IV. Finale: Vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 2: I. Andante
String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 2: II. Allegro
String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 2: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 2: IV. Presto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 3: I. Vivace Assai
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 3: II. Adagio ma non troppo
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 3: III. Menuetto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 3: IV. Presto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 64 No. 1: I. Allegro moderato
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 64 No. 1: II. Menuet: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 64 No. 1: III. Allegretto scherzando
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 64 No. 1: IV. Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 64 No. 2: I. Allegro spiritoso
String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 64 No. 2: II. Adagio ma non troppo
String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 64 No. 2: III. Menuetto
String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 64 No. 2: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 3: I. Vivace assai
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 3: II. Adagio
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 3: III. Menuet: Allegretto
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 3: IV. Finale: Allegro con spirito
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 64 No. 4: I. Allegro con brio
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 64 No. 4: II. Menuetto and Trio
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 64 No. 4: III. Adagio cantabile sostenuto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 64 No. 4: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 64 No. 5: I. Allegro moderato
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 64 No. 5: II. Adagio
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 64 No. 5: III. Menuet: Allegretto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 64 No. 5: IV. Finale: Vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 6: I. Allegro
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 6: II. Andante
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 6: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 6: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 1: I. Allegro
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 1: II. Adagio
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 1: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 1: IV. Vivace
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 71 No. 2: I. Adagio; Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 71 No. 2: II. Adagio cantabile
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 71 No. 2: III. Menuetto: Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 71 No. 2: IV. Finale: Allegretto - Vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 3: I. Vivace
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 3: II. Andante con moto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 3: III. Menuetto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 3: IV. Finale: Vivace
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 74 No. 1: I. Allegro moderato
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 74 No. 1: II. Andantino grazioso
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 74 No. 1: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 74 No. 1: IV. Finale: Vivace
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 74 No. 2: I. Allegro spiritoso
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 74 No. 2: II. Andante grazioso
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 74 No. 2: III. Menuetto: Allegro
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 74 No. 2: IV. Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 74 No. 3: I. Allegro
String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 74 No. 3: II. Largo assai
String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 74 No. 3: III. Menuetto and Trio: Allegretto
String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 74 No. 3: IV. Finale: Allegro con brio
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 76 No. 1: I. Allegro con spirito
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 76 No. 1: II. Adagio sostenuto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 76 No. 1: III. Menuetto: Presto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 76 No. 1: IV. Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 76 No. 2: I. Allegro
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 76 No. 2: II. Andante o piu tosto allegretto
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 76 No. 2: III. Menuetto: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 76 No. 2: IV. Vivace assai
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 103 (Unfinished): II. Andante grazioso
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 103 (Unfinished): III. Menuetto ma non troppo presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Major, Op. 76 No. 3: I. Allegro
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 76 No. 3: II. Poco adagio, cantabile
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 76 No. 3: III. Menuetto: Allegro
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 76 No. 3: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 76 No. 4: I. Allegro con spirito
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 76 No. 4: II. Adagio
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 76 No. 4: III. Menuetto: Allegro
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, Op. 76 No. 4: IV. Finale: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 76 No. 5: I. Allegretto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 76 No. 5: II. Largo ma non troppo: Cantabile e mesto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 76 No. 5: III. Menuetto: Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 76 No. 5: IV. Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 76 No. 6: I. Allegretto; Allegro
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 76 No. 6: II. Fantasia: Adagio
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 76 No. 6: III. Menuetto: Presto
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 76 No. 6: IV. Finale: Allegro spirituoso
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 77 No. 1: I. Allegro moderato
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 77 No. 1: II. Adagio
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 77 No. 1: III. Menuetto: Presto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 77 No. 1: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 77 No. 2: I. Allegro moderato
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 77 No. 2: II. Menuetto: Presto ma non troppo
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 77 No. 2: III. Andante
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 77 No. 2: IV. Finale: Vivace assai

Tracks:

The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Introduzione: Maestoso ed adagio
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: A Hymne To Christ
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Sonata I: Adagio
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Prayer - A Dialogue Between Christian And Death
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Sonata II: Grave e cantabile
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Good Friday: Rex tragicus
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Sonata III: Grave
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Who Cannot Weep, Come Learn At Me
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Sonata IV: Largo
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Still Falls The Rain (The Raids, 1940. Night And Dawn)
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Sonata V: Adagio
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: The Killing
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Sonata VI: Lento
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Tenebrae - Kyrie
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Sonata VII: Largo
The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51: Il Terremoto: Presto e con tutta la forza

Amazon.com

These works, along with the Haydn symphonies, are the most important and revolutionary works in the history of Western music. Haydn was the true inventor of the string quartet, and his 681 or 682 examples of the form have never, as a body, been equaled. They span his entire life, from the 1750s straight through to 1803, and without them the chamber music achievements of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert--and everyone who came later--would have been unthinkable. These works set the standard, and they still do. These performances, if not the last work in polish, are lively and affectionate. What's more, they wear easily on the ear, which is important because, once you start listening, you won't want to stop. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Lively, colourful.......2005-06-02

If you are going to have only one set of Haydn's collected string quartets, this is a strong candidate. These are lively, colourful performances, not always as balanced and classical as the Tatrai set, but with much, much better sound quality. If you don't care for production values, you could of course go for Tatrai; if you need a reasonably good sound, I guess Aeolian is the best of the spirited performances. Even if I have the Tatrai set, I find that the Aeolian set conveys additional qualities of the music. (Both the Angeles set and the Kodaly set leave me indifferent. )

Sizzles!.......2003-06-08

We had an unexpected baby - cutting a long story short, he was premature, tinier than anything I had seen before, and thinking he would not be with us for long, we actually bought this set for him. Silly really. I really knew the quartets only by reputation, and thought that he could hear just a little bit of music in this world, he would be happy for that short space...
Flash to two year later. My goodness, he is big and strong. He adores Haydn. He loves Beethoven and Bach. He dances to everything, even the beeping sound from the traffic lights, for goodness sake! This music has made him very musically aware, we know he is pitch perfect now, he can sing half a dozen film themes, and does it in the right key. He's half mad most of the time, but lovely and splendid in his small way.

Haydn was in love all his life. He knew some sort of joy which I have dimly seen. This joy shatters every vessel it tries to fill, comes from outside the world, but spends serious time in it, pestering the life out of those who have ears to hear. You might hear it here. Particularly in the first disc, which Jonathon knows off by heart now. Usually by track 12 he is sound asleep.

I really recommend this. I wish I could buy a few tens of these and give them away to quite a few people I know, but alas, I'm still paying for the first box! (Only joking)

just an amazing performance.......2001-08-08

If you are a chamber music lover you should buy this set, more than 22 hours of the truly best quartet music ever. The Aeolian is just supreme. Don't think about the price. If you want to impove your clasical CD collection, well buy it.

just an amazing performance.......2001-08-08

No Op. 3's & 681 quartets?.......2000-11-22

The likely reason the Op. 3's are not included in this package is due to the fact that they are often attributed to R. Hofstetter instead of Papa Haydn himself. Also the typo in the staff review was probably meant to read 68 or 68 1/2 (the 1/2 referring to the final unfinished quartet Op. 103). Whether you attribute the Op. 3's to Haydn or not, the actual count is around 70, making this a very substantial, if not complete, set of Haydn quartets.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Ambient Voids: A Hypnotic Compilation

Franco Tagliavini Recital No.2

Complete Europeon Solo Recordings 1

Green Dolphin Street [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Date With Elvis [Import]

Disco Fiesta A Bailar

Contemporary Gospel Christmas

Escape [Explicit Lyrics]

El Carretero

Fantasie: Piano Music of John M. Sciullo

Circles

Bolero Zen [Import]

Deep House All Stars [Import]

The Ultimate Kids Song Collection: Favorite Sing-A-Longs, Vol. 1

Dedication