Schubert: Quintet in C / Quartettsatz in C minor

On this CD:

1. Quintet for 2 violins, viola & 2 cellos in C major, D. 956 (Op. posth. 163)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Ani Kavafian, Ida Kavafian, Paul Neubauer, Leslie Parnas, Fred Sherry

2. String Quartet No. 12 in C minor ("Quartettsatz"), D. 703
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, Ani Kavafian, Ida Kavafian, Paul Neubauer, Fred Sherry

Customer Reviews:

FULL APPRECIATION.......2007-03-20

Until this bargain priced recording on three discs of the Emerson Quartet playing Schubert`s last four string quartets (included also is the String Quintet in C major, D956 featuring Rostropovich on cello), down through the years, I really did not have too much of an appreciation for Schubert's Quartets # 12, 13, 14, 15. For some reason their beauty eluded me. Now, with this recording, I love the works especially the #15 in G major. It is indeed filled with drama, pathos and great beauty. I don't think I can blame this "new found" appreciation on any maturation on my part. I really believe, it's soley due to the exquisite playing of the Emerson Quartet. They really play these works not like they are "walking on eggshells" but with vigor, passion and beauty. Also, I'm sure, that the wonderful recorded sound helped in my appreciation too.

I plan on seeking out more Schubert performed by the Emerson Quartet--they are so very good!!

Average customer rating:

Masterpiece
Equally as beautiful as the book
"Two Treasures of Pure Pleasure"
Compulsory reading
Truly Equal!

Vikram Seth: An Equal Music

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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An Equal Music
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Two Lives
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ASIN: B00003OO0L
Release Date: 2000-08-22

Tracks:

Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: Preludio
String Quintet in C minor, op.104: Allegro con brio
String Quintet in C minor, op.104: Andante cantabile con variazioni
String Quintet in C minor, op.104: Menuetto: Quasi allegro
String Quintet in C minor, op.104: Finale: Prestissimo
Quartet in A major, op.20 no.6, Hob.III-36: Allegro di molto e scherzando
Quartet in A major, op.20 no.6, Hob.III-36: Adagio: Cantabile
Quartet in A major, op.20 no.6, Hob.III-36: Menuetto: Allegreto
Quartet in A major, op.20 no.6, Hob.III-36: Fuga a 3 soggetti: Allegro
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 1
Sonata for piano and violin in E minor, K304-300c: Allegro
Sonata for piano and violin in E minor, K304-300c: Tempo di Menuetto
Quartettsatz in C minor, D703: Allegro assai

Tracks:

Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': Allegro vivace
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': Andante
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': Scherzo: Presto
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': Theme & Variations: Andantino
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': Finale: Allegro giusto
String Quintet in C major, D956: Scherzo: Presto - Trio: Andante sostenuto
'Manchester Sonata' No. 1 for violin and piano in C major, RV 3: Largo
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': The Lark Ascending
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 1

Amazon.com

Vikram Seth's novel An Equal Music is as evocative a portrait of the world of chamber music as you could wish for, but Seth is the first to say that words "can only attempt to describe what cannot truly be described." This two-CD set adds the inevitably missing dimension to a great book, with performances of works featured in the story. They include the world-premiere recording of Beethoven's String Quintet in C minor, an obscure work that is central to the plot.

This piece, like the other selections, is beautifully played and recorded, for this is not a collection of second-rate recordings cobbled together to suit the theme. Vikram Seth himself has chosen the performances, and with performers of the stature of Iona Brown and Andras Schiff, the playing is as good as it gets. Included in the selection is Schubert's celebrated Trout Quintet. If the book gives a taste for the music, and vice versa, these CDs will also get us delving further into this delightful and infectious repertoire. --Keith Clarke

Customer Reviews:

Masterpiece.......2006-11-11

The book is a masterpiece of literature on music, and the music itself are masterpieces

Equally as beautiful as the book.......2006-03-17

A beautiful collection of music ideal for lovers of Seth's stunning novel - a perfect introduction to classical music .

"Two Treasures of Pure Pleasure".......2004-09-21

I purchased the book "An Equal Music" by Vikram Seth, not knowing that there existed a CD that was meant to accompany it. I was about a third of the way through the book, and Vikrams story was so captivating, that I longed to hear the musical pieces that his characters where so passionate about. So I set forth on a quest of my own trying to track down and put together each piece of his repertoire. During my search, I discovered this CD, purchased it, and stopped all reading until its arrival. I slipped it into the disc player, settled in with liner notes in hand, closed my eyes, and found a new appreciation and passion for the classical genre. Exceptional was track 8 of disc 2, "The Lark Ascending" composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams, an absolutely enchanting piece! Not to say that the other tracks are not of equal caliber, they are, just of a different mood.

This compilation is a brilliant companion to the book, yet alone, it stands proudly on its own merits. Bach, Beethoven, Hayden, Schubert, Vivaldi, and of course Williams are all featured on this CD, names all renowned in the world of classical music. The difference between this CD, and say another classical compilation, is that through the inspiration and support of the book, what once one could not identify nor differentiate between in the works of the above, begins to unfold with a keen grasp of each. This assemblage will definitely help you to recognize and feel each composer's unique style.

In the book, the Maggiore Quartet members expose to you, through beautifully interpreted prose, their driving passion behind performing each piece as they become consumed in each note. This caused me to listen intensely not only to each composition, but also to the individual score of each instruments harmonious part. Bringing a deeper connection with not only the characters in this book along with the featured musical selections, but also with the professional musicians themselves whose lives are music.

Mr. Seth should be commended for this creative marriage of fervent fodder. A brilliantly moving novel enhanced and brought to life through this CD. My next stop, an evening out savoring a live performance!

Compulsory reading.......2004-03-30

This amazing book MUST be read by any person who is even slightly interested in music. if you have ever been in a string quartet, you will love the way that this book perfectly captures the delicate balance of emotions within such a close kint group. the love story is alternated with lyrical and descriptive passages, often about something of little significance. The book is a rich and heartwrenching story of love, music and loss. absolutely fabulous!

Truly Equal!.......2004-02-03

Vikram Seth casts a melacholic spell with his novel. This is the first time I am reading a work of fiction woven around chamber musicians, which leads one to explore the inner workings of their thoughts.
The accompamying CD is truly marvellous. Listen to Iona Brown soar away in Vaughan Williams 'Lark Ascending'. The others are also truly 'equal'.

Franz Schubert: String Quartets D 804 "Rosamunde", D 810 "Death and the Maiden", D 887, D 703 and String Quintet D 956

Average customer rating:

SO MUCH THAT I WANT EVEN MORE
Schubert's late chamber masterpieces
Awesome music, interesting performance
Schubert + Emerson = Listener Satisfaction
Good but not Best

Franz Schubert: String Quartets D 804 "Rosamunde", D 810 "Death and the Maiden", D 887, D 703 and String Quintet D 956
Franz Schubert , Emerson String Quartet , and Mstislav Rostropovich
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000I0L8
Release Date: 1999-02-09

Tracks:

String Quartet In A Minor, D 804, Op. 29: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In A Minor, D 804, Op. 29: 2. Andante
String Quartet In A Minor, D 804, Op. 29: 3. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
String Quartet In A Minor, D 804, Op. 29: 4. Allegro moderato
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 'Death And The Maiden': 1. Allegro
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 'Death And The Maiden': 2. Andante con moto
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 'Death And The Maiden': 3. Scherzo. Allegro molto - Trio
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 'Death And The Maiden': 4. Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In G Major, D 887: 1. Allegro molto moderato
String Quartet In G Major, D 887: 2. Andante un poco mosso
String Quartet In G Major, D 887: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio. Allegretto
String Quartet In G Major, D 887: 4. Allegro assai
Quartet Movement In C Minor, D 703: 5. Allegro assai
Quartet Movement In C Minor, D 703: 6. Andante (fragment)

Tracks:

String Quintet In C Major, D 956: 1. Allegro ma non troppo - Franz Schubert
String Quintet In C Major, D 956: 2. Adagio - Franz Schubert
String Quintet In C Major, D 956: 3. Scherzo, Presto - Trio, Andante sostenuto - Franz Schubert
String Quintet In C Major, D 956: 4. Allegretto - Franz Schubert

Customer Reviews:

SO MUCH THAT I WANT EVEN MORE.......2007-05-24

To say the least, nobody purchasing this set is likely to regret it. Just at the pedestrian level of value-for-quantity the value is brilliant, and at the artistic level it is more brilliant still. The professionalism and technical proficiency of the Emerson group probably needs little highlighting by now, but these players are musicians first and foremost. Apart from perfect intonation and ultra-perfect ensemble they have added variety to their unfailing beauty of sound. The start of the G major quartet, which can sometimes be a bit of an assault on the ears, is done ideally, with the exploding chords sonorous and majestic. At the other end of the volume-scale there is a wonderful breathless hush near the end of the variations in the D minor, and in this same quartet I don't think I ever heard the enchanting second subject of the first movement phrased so beautifully.

How do they relate to Schubert? For me, Schubert is a composer apart. All his compositions are early works, and in the five pieces comprised in this set I sense a steady advance in certainty and consistency. By the time of the quintet he is fully inside his own individual style, but at every stage of his development there are sequences in which someone or something beyond the merely human seems to be speaking or singing, using him as a mouthpiece, and it taxes even the greatest of his exponents to detect and express these. They are not a matter of one specific idiom, but of several, and the better the interpreters handle such passages the more I find myself longing for some ideal that I refuse to consider unreachable, because I have always heard it reached by someone at some time. One issue is represented by the second subject in the G major's first movement. When this comes round for the second time, in the recapitulation with new counterpoint, the Emersons are perfect for me. However at its first appearance this theme, with its muttering self-repetitions, has a somnambulistic air to it that the Novak quartet on my old LP capture ideally for me, and I wonder whether the Emersons are just a little bright-eyed and clean-limbed. The sense of that grew on me as the set progressed. The great melody from the first movement of the quintet (with Rostropovich on the second cello) suits me fine as they do it, but in the trio of the G major's scherzo while they sing the melody like angels what I want is not people like angels but the angels themselves. I have heard them in this movement before. In a different mode of expression there is the G major's last movement. Schubert produced a similar finale to his late C minor piano sonata, and I would have been more than satisfied with the Emersons here, particularly with the magnificent tone at the end, if I did not know Ogdon's performance of the sonata movement, one of the greatest interpretations I ever heard, with the whole huge piece seemingly taken in a single breath.

The very first and the very last things on this set are especially testing for interpreters of Schubert. The last movement in the quintet, a piece in a very special Schubertian idiom, is my idea of unqualified perfection here. The speed is not too fast, the variations in pace are superbly judged, there is the right sense of a heavy and almost dragging undertow to the rhythm in the accompaniment, and the phrasing of the second theme is something to live for. The set starts with the A minor quartet, and here I held my breath, because with that opening theme we are communing with something not of this world. Verdi, so immune in general to German influence and so gifted with melody himself, explicitly takes off his hat to it at the start of his Requiem. The balance of the melody against the hypnotic wavy accompaniment is perfect here, so is it my absolute ideal? It's somewhere near it at least.

Only one movement out of the whole eighteen seems to me not quite right. The last movement of the D minor is a little fast for my liking, but I could live with that. However the Emersons' fast tempo really does seem symptomatic of a sense that they have missed a deeper tone to the movement, and I felt that in the cadence-theme to the exposition and recapitulation in particular. My thoughts reverted to how this is done by the Gabrieli Quartet on my beloved old LP, with the impression of an apparition of the four horsemen of somewhere that makes me catch my breath to this day. On the other hand, for many people the high spot of such a set is likely to be the slow movement of the quintet, and I can report a reading to rank with the finest here, time held in abeyance as it should be and the control of the sustained long notes perfect beyond perfection.

The set dates from as long ago as 1988, I see, and I wonder how these divinely gifted artists do these pieces nearly twenty years on. The recording is excellent, an absolute necessity for playing like this. The liner notes are also good, except for the one on the quintet, and I seem not to have mentioned so far that we are given the outstandingly lovely fragment of the intended slow movement to the Quartettsatz. Altogether, an outstanding issue in nearly every way. I am reminded of Schubert's epitaph `A rich treasure and still fairer hopes'. These players are young enough to do these quartets again, as they are to do Beethoven's again, and I hope I am still young enough to hear how they do them.

Schubert's late chamber masterpieces.......2005-10-29

The strong points of this 3-CD set are: (1) the immeasurably rich compositions from Schubert, (2) the excellent coupling of the last four quartets with the quintet, (3) the above-average Emerson Quartet performance and (4) the superb value from DG. If you are not familiar with Schubert's chamber works, these four quartets and string quintet are very late masterpieces and some of Schubert's most intricate, mature and monumental compositions. These, along with Schubert's late piano sonatas, reveal glimpses into his deep struggles and pain (through the explosive, dissonant outbursts) but also tender moments of joy and repose as well. It seemed in his final year or two that he was emerging into a consumate maturity as a composer - which tragically was cut short by his early death (supposedly due to complications from Syphilis). The quintet is especially magnificant with each movement being as towering as the next.

There is no arguing that the Emerson Quartet stands among the finest current quartets around. Whether you gravitate to their particular style and sound is quite a personal matter. Certainly, the Emersons get strong accolades for their late Beethoven and recordings of more modern (and 'edgy') composers. In such bold, purcussive and chromatic music they seem to excel and find their greatest expression. Schubert - while 'edgy' in his own way in these late chamber works - still composed in the somewhat-restrained Vienesse tradition (being born and bread in Vienna himself) although parallels to Beethoven are abundent in the music here. Consequently, Schubert's chamber music has still a strong classical flavor and typical Schubertian lyricism. Like another reviewer mentioned, the Emerson Quartet's style is a bit more "direct" and "sharp" in terms of phrasing, articulations and tonality somewhat. Some call their style "A Manhattan style" - I guess suggesting the directness that people from Manhattan are known for (no offense to New Yorkers).

Regardless, the Emerson's style becomes more apparent when comparing with European quartets like the Alban Berg, the Quartetto Italiano and the Quatuor Mosaiques - all of which perform this music with what is often described as a more traditional "Old World Austrian style" (particular the Alban Berg Quartet who hails from Austria). So, while the Emerson's put forth dramatic, precise and interesting readings here, I think at times they "attack" the music too aggressively for its intent and period in history. Schubert was first and foremost a master of melody and lyricism - which does not go away even in his most dissonant and explosive momements. There just seems - at times - an overly-direct expressiveness and tempos that are driven a bit too quickly from the Emersons and a lack of the needed elegance and lyrical smoothness of Schubert's music when called for. But, such things are nuance and not a matter of right or wrong really. However, this quartet dynamic brings out the needed emotive effect in pieces like the potent G-major scherzo movement or the electifying Quartetsalz. Ditto that as well for the great quintet in C major - which a live recording with the legendary cellist, Rostropovich. So, the Emerson's playing here on the whole is impeccably precise and consumately professional so it is more a question whether you like their style nuances as compared to others.

Part of this above conclusion may be colored in part by the sound quality here on DG, which I found to be deficient in tone richness and resonant depth. It just sounds stark and dry - lacking the resonant, harmonic fullness and proper sound stage that allow music to "breath" more and sound more expansive and dramatic. But on the positive side, the instrument balance is great and the sound is full in volume and not "hissy" with a close-miked ambiance allowing clear differentiation of instruments if you like that kind of sound.

The Quartets who to me best capture these most complex and emotive quartets most fully are the (1) Alban Berg (quartets and especially the quintet), (2) the Quatuor Mosaiques (who play a most expressively and nuanced Rosamunde) and (3) the Quartetto Italiano (all quartets, especially the G major quartet which is truly staturesque in its harmonic depths). And for the great quintet, the Marlboro Festival recording (Sony) is highly recommended for its spirited live performance, along with the Alban Berg's "Great Recording of the Century" on EMI.

This DG 3-CD set is a fine recording and value - I just don't think it is the music in which this top quartet shines the brightest. I think the others listed above represent Schubert on a higher plane of excellence and more idiomatic to the composition. But, this DG coupling of the last four great quartets plus the monumental string quintet is fairly unique and priced to be the best value out there. Either way, what is most important is to explore these most wonderful chamber masterpieces.

Awesome music, interesting performance.......2004-07-22

These five compositions--Schubert?s last quartets and nearly his last work, the string quintet--have got to be one of the most underappreciated achievements in the history of artistic endeavor. Who else ever captured such an incredible spectrum of emotions in such exquisite poetry, without Romantic excess? Only Shakespeare comes to mind.

The Emerson performances of the quartets are extremely interesting?very high on the drama, maybe not so high on the poetry. There is immense energy and passion, the usual Emerson technical excellence, but not warmth exactly. Someone reviewing the Berg Quartet?s version of D.887 said he hasn?t gone back to Emerson after hearing ABQ (?honey has replaced the razor blades?). I feel like I couldn?t go back to ABQ after Emerson. The way the Emerson four do the first movement of D.887?I just get a lump in my throat and a little shiver down my spine every time I hear it. If the music can be played this way, why wimp out? I guess I?ll take the razor blades?.

The performance of the quintet with Rostropovich is of a different order: brilliant AND warm. I suggest checking out the reviews of the separately issued CD. This is music-making of a very high order indeed. If the set was the only way to get this performance of the quintet, I?d recommend buying the set. With the quality of the other performances, a fantastic deal.

Schubert + Emerson = Listener Satisfaction.......2002-02-23

First, these quartets are some of the best written to date so if you've not heard them, you should. Second, This is a great set to start with.
From the subtle first movement of Rosemunde, to the confused fury of Death and the Maiden, Emerson's interpretations are immense and multi-dimensional, constantly engaging the listener to jump further into the music. Not bad for a thirty some-odd dollar CD set.
The shining moment is the Quartettsatz. Already (in my opinion) THE BEST nine minutes of chamber music ever, Emerson adds to its appeal taking a bold flirty approach with it; Like a good crime novel, building an undeniable forward motion. It's so sad when after two minutes, the second movement cuts off. If the reader has no idea what I'm talking about, take my word. It will effect you.
The reason for the subtracted star is that, although Emersons in-your-face approach works well for the fast, bold movements, they can not fully shake it in the slower movements, where it sounds clumsey and innapropriate. The second movement in Rosamunde and D 703 could've done with more delicate treatment. For experienced Schubert listeners, Emerson adds a refreshing twist to these quartets. For the beginner, this is an exciting starting point.

Good but not Best.......2000-12-12

Unless you are in a hurry or care about the modern, digital sound, wait for Sony to release the Budapest Quartet version of these quartets on CD. That is the version to have; its absence from CD is one of the great gaps in the catalog.

Schubert: String Quintet D. 956; Quartettsatz D. 703

Average customer rating:

Schubert: String Quintet D. 956; Quartettsatz D. 703
Guarneri Quartet , and Leonard Rose
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002VYE0Y
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Tracks:

Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Adagio
Scherzo: Presto
Allegretto
Allegro Assai

Amazon.com

During its distinguished 40-year career, the Guarneri Quartet has generated an enormous discography. This recording of the 1970s must be among its earliest. It is totally amazing. The group's unique, instantly recognizable characteristics are already fully in evidence: its beautiful, expressive sound, its unanimous, aristocratic style, its unfailing sense of pacing, its poised, organic transitions. Every note is alive and expressive; every line stands out in a seamlessly woven tapestry. In the Quintet's unusual scoring, the viola holds the balance between two high and two low voices. Michael Tree makes his part a source of tensile yet flexible strength. The mercurial first movement encompasses melting lyricism and high drama; in the second, the anguished middle section is much faster, making the return to the original celestial mood problematic. The Scherzo is robust, the Trio tragic; the Finale is an exuberant, austere, gracious dance. The "Quartetsatz" is urgent, ominous; the lyrical second theme floats serenely. The Guarneri recorded the Quintet again in the 1990s with cellist Bernard Greenhouse--tracing the differences and similarities is fascinating. The two violins sound uncannily equal, the second cello more prominent; the slow movement tempo changes are more balanced. The basic concept seems unchanged, but the projection is heightened and intensified with greater freedom, spontaneity, ardor, repose, daring, breadth and depth of feeling. Two great recordings--both indispensable. --Edith Eisler

Average customer rating:

One of the best of the Masterworks series
Will not buy this
Worth it!
Great way to jumpstart a schubert collection
Better to Pick a Few First-rate Performances

Schubert: The Masterworks [Box Set]

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00062FLJC
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

One of the best of the Masterworks series.......2007-07-06

Brilliant Classics' "Masterworks" series, if you can get them cheaply (and currently they go for about $1/CD from Amazon's France Web site), are a great way to amass a significant library of the works of several great computers. The production values and the performances themselves are uneven, and the interpretations are not always historically-informed (unlike the bulk of Brilliant's "Complete Editions" of the works of Bach and Mozart). But there are numerous gems in the rough in The Masterworks, and the economic value is unsurpassed, even if you were to throw away half of the CDs in each set.

You're unlikely to throw away much of this Schubert collection though. This seems to be the finest of the Masterworks sets, with a succession of solid, often first-rate performances of most of the major Schubert works. Here's what you get:

- The symphonies, performed by The Hanover Band in a historically-informed style. Very interesting performances perhaps marred by an odd recording balance that makes the woodwinds sound distant. Takes up four CDs
- The six Latin masses. Also the Deutsche Messe in the version with wind instruments. Five CDs in all
- Edison Denisov's completion of Schubert's unfinished dramatic work Lazarus (2 CDs, Helmuth Rilling's premier recording)
- The last four string quartets (including the Quartettsatz) with #9 thrown in. Also the octet, piano quintet ("The Trout"), string quintet and both piano trios. In short all the canonical chamber works. Performances are strong, and well recorded
- Two CDs of violin/piano duets, including Op. 137 and Op. 162
- 19 of the 21 "canonical" piano sonatas (missing #7 and #12) as well as the Moments Musicaux, Impromptus, German Dances, Wanderer Fantasy and several other piano works, 11 CDs in all. As with the chamber music, the performances and recordings are strong, often stunning
- Two CDs of piano duets, including the Divertissements and D. 617
- Song cycles: Die Schöne Müllerin, Winterreise, Schwanengesang, and four CDs of standalone songs, including such "standards" as Erlkönig and Gretchen am Spinnrade. The singers are a bit uneven here, ranging from standouts Robert Holl, Deitrich Fischer-Dieskau and John Shirley-Quirk to the somewhat shrill Arleen Augér

Missing from the collection is Rosamunde, and a number of famous songs: Die Forelle (The Trout), Death and the Maiden, Ellens Gesang III (the so-called Ave Maria, D. 839), Der Hirt auf dem Felsen and Der Wanderer. But you do have almost all the important instrumental works, and most of the vocal works generally considered to be essential, with some padding added in the form of minor works such as the parochial Deutsche Messe, the German Dances, and the modernist-informed completion of Lazarus by the 20th Century Russian composer Denisov.

As with the other Masterworks sets, there are no program notes. You'll need to do your own research. Answers.com is a good starting point for Schubert compositions. There are also no song texts or translations provided, so again you'll need to track down your own. Try "The Lied and Art Song Texts Page" for lieder lyrics and translations. Hunt down a good price on this collection, browsing one of Amazon's European sites if necessary, and treat yourself to many hours of lovely music for the cost of a modest night out.

Will not buy this.......2007-03-16

I can't see D965 or D945 on this 40 disks worth of Schubert. Bizarre! There are so many great songs missing it scares me.

Worth it!.......2006-12-19

One of the best in "The Masterpices" series. Many of the discs (the symphonies in particular) were licensed from Nimbus and other full-line labels. Not all that long ago these discs would have set you back $18 to $20 a piece. That said, I still wouldn't part with my Hyperion collection. 40 CD's at this price... you can't go wrong.

Great way to jumpstart a schubert collection.......2006-12-19

Hartmut Holl, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Stephanie Brown, and Jaime Laredo as well as the Stuttgart Bach Collegium performing Schubert are hardly "left-behind artists and ensembles" as the previous naysayer states. These are licensed from major label releases and from the original masters issued at a bargain price, especially for the number of discs you get. Sound quality ranges from good to excellent. Good for all Schubertians and anyone who wants to jumpstart a Schubert collection.

Better to Pick a Few First-rate Performances.......2006-11-14

This is a bargain in dollar/listening time ratio, but who cares? There are many second-rate performances by left-behind artists and ensembles. Obviously the economics of resurrecting disks that don't require royalties has been the driving factor of selection. (On the other hand, the complete edition boxed sets of Bach and Mozart, which you'll find if you look, are stupendous successes artistically.)

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Classical Highlights: Schubert

Manufacturer: St. Clair Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000CDLBN
Release Date: 2003-09-16

Tracks:

Quintet for Piano in a Major "Trout"/Allegro Vivace
Quintet for Piano in a Major "Trout"/Andante
Quintet for Piano in a Major "Trout"/Scherzo: Presto
Quintet for Piano in a Major "Trout"/Tema Con Variazioni: ...
Quintet for Piano in a Major "Trout"/Finale; Allegro Giusto
Symphony No. 8 in B Minor "Unfinished"/Allegro Moderato
Symphony No. 8 in B Minor "Unfinished"/Andante Con Moto
Impromptus, Op. 90/Impromptu in C Minor. Allegro Molto Moderato
Impromptus, Op. 90/Impromptu in E Flat Major. Allegro
Impromptus, Op. 90/Impromptu in G Flat Major. Andante
Impromptus, Op. 90/Impromptu in a Flat Major. Allegretto
String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor "Death and the Maiden"/Allegro
String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor "Death and the Maiden" Andante ...
String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor "Death and the Maiden" Scherzo: ...
String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor "Death and the Maiden"/Presto
String Quartet No. 12 in C Minor "Quartettsatz" Allegro Assai ...
Rosamunde/Ballet Music
Symphony No. 9 in C Major "Great" Introduction: Andante-Allegro Ma Non
Symphony No. 9 in C Major "Great"/Andante Con Moto
Symphony No. 9 in C Major "Great"/Scherzo + Trio: Allegro Vivace
Symphony No. 9 in C Major "Great"/Allegro Vivace
Symphony No. 3 in D Major/Adagio Maestoso-Allegro Con Brio
Symphony No. 3 in D Major/Allegretto
Symphony No. 3 in D Major/Minuetto (Vivace)-Trio
Symphony No. 3 in D Major/Presto-Vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Major/Allegro
Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Major/Andante Con Moto
Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Major/Minuetto: Allegro Molto
Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Major/Allegro Vivace
Impromptus, Op. 142/Impromptu in F Minor. Allegro Moderato
Impromptus, Op. 142/Impromptu in a Flat Major. Allegretto
Impromptus, Op. 142/Impromptu in B Flat Major. Andante
Impromptus, Op. 142/Impromptu in F Major. Allegro Scherzo
String Quartet No. 13 in a Minor "Rosamunde"/Allegro Ma Non Troppo
String Quartet No. 13 in a Minor "Rosamunde"/Andante
String Quartet No. 13 in a Minor "Rosamunde"/Minuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet No. 13 in a Minor "Rosamunde"/Allegro Moderato
Moment Musical in a Flat Major
Symphony No. 1 in D Major/Excerpt
Symphony No. 4 in C Minor "Tragic"/Adagio Molto-Allegro Vivace
Symphony No. 4 in C Minor "Tragic"/Andante
Symphony No. 4 in C Minor "Tragic"/Minuetto E Trio (Allegro Vivace)
Symphony No. 4 in C Minor "Tragic"/Allegro
Scherzo No. 1 in B Flat Major
Sonatine for Violin and Piano No. 2 in a Minor/Excerpt
Sonatine for Violin and Piano No. 2 in a Minor/Andante
Sonatine for Violin and Piano No. 1 in D Major/Allegro Vivace
Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in a Minor/Allegro Moderato
Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in a Minor/Adagio
Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in a Minor/Allegretto

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Schubert: Chamber Masterpieces

Manufacturer: Vanguard Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Mozart: Chamber Music
The Most Relaxing Chamber Music Album in the World ... Ever!

ASIN: B0000B1A67
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Weller Quartet: Decca Recordings, 1964-1970

Average customer rating:

An under-appreciated quartet

Weller Quartet: Decca Recordings, 1964-1970

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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CARL SCHURICHT Decca Recordings 1949-1956
Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
George Szell: Decca & Philips Recordings 1951-1969
The Complete American Decca Recordings
Philips and Decca Recordings, 1961-1979 (Limited Edition)

ASIN: B0009A41YM
Release Date: 2005-08-09

Customer Reviews:

An under-appreciated quartet.......2006-02-26

It was through the Weller Quartet that I came to love the Brahms Op. 51 quartets during music school years ago. Theirs are very warm and loving performances in a style of playing that one finds less of now. The quartet's history tells you much of what to expect--all of the players were from the Vienna Philharmonic, and were the sons of professional musicians. Their sense of ensemble is first rate, and their sound is warm, even lush at times, though with reserve.

Walter Weller's comments say much about their interpretive stance: "nothing should be exaggerated--too much of any dynamic does not make any musical sense"..."always floating, never hard or sharp." Indeed, to me, their Brahms was like a warm bath...not to say that it was lacking in passion, but there was nothing fierce or overly aggressive about it.

Listening to the other performances in this box (some of which I'd heard, some not) provided a similar pleasure. The Wellers' approach harkens back to the traditions from which it came; very solid music making, impeccable ensemble, warm sound, and, while not lacking in energy or excitement, overall somewhat conservative.

This is not to say I don't enjoy some of the great quartets of our day: The Emersons, Leipzig, Takacs. In fact, it is probably fair to say that the latter 2 in particular descend, to some extent, from the Weller-type tradition.

But I would urge those seriously interested in chamber music to invest in this box, for the pleasure of hearing a somewhat different approach, and, definitely, for the pleasure of a number of hours of fine music making. The recorded sound is first rate for Decca in the 60's.

Schubert: The Late String Quartets; String Quartets

Average customer rating:

THE LINDSAYS: A ONE-STAR ENSEMBLE
Don't be silly, just buy it.
Jolly Ol'Schubert, made in England

Schubert: The Late String Quartets; String Quartets

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0001Z2RSW
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Tracks:

I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
II. Adagio
III. Scherzo (Presto) - Trio (Andante Sostenuto)
IV. Finale: Allegretto

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Andante Con Moto
II. Scherzo (Allegro Molto) - Trio
IV. Presto
String Quartet No. 12 in C Minor, D703 'Quartettsatz'

Tracks:

I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
II. Andante
III. Menuetto - Allegretto
IV. Allegro Moderato
I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
II. Andante Sostenuto
III. Menuetto - Allegretto
IV. Presto

Tracks:

I. Allegro Molto Moderato
II. Andante Un Poco Moto
III. Scherzo: Allegro Vivace - (Trio: Allegretto)
IV. Allegro Assai

Customer Reviews:

THE LINDSAYS: A ONE-STAR ENSEMBLE.......2005-01-05

To compare the Lindsays to the Busch Quartet, as a few do, is like saying that Maya Angelou is Walt Whitman -- only someone with the most ill-informed or execrable taste could make such a statement.

Praising performers for their "warmth" -- a virtue the Lindsays supposedly possess -- is rather like answering the question "Is she an attractive woman?" with "She has a good sense of humor." In other words, no, she is not attractive. Similarly, by praising performers for their "warmth," a critic essentially means, "No, they can't play, but they supposedly have these other, more meaningful, less superficial virtues." When I see the word "warmth" used to describe a performance, I have learned to look elsewhere for an attractive performance.

Spend your money and decide for yourself. Personally, I find the Lindsays consistently wretched, neglecting and disfiguring the longer melodic lines by dwelling far too much on incidental detail. They deliberately "uglify" their sound to pander to those critics who -- in a self-congratulatory sort of way -- pride themselves on seeing through mere surface beauty. If that describes you, the Lindsays just possibly might suit you. They absurdly, self-consciously, and over-obviously strive to seem "wise" or "warm" a la the Busch, but this doesn't really matter because, oh yeah, they can't play either. It gets confusing, really, trying to discern between what's deliberately ugly and what's just ugly...

Don't be silly, just buy it........2005-01-02

The Lindsays reputation for outstanding performance is sufficient not to be reiterated here (too late perhaps!). Having heard the Alan Berg Quartets sublime rendering of the Quintet I had almost unreasonable demands upon any other recording. Happily the lindsays came through - though i still prefer the Berg; probably for no other reason than that I heard it first! The Rosamunde is exceptional possibly the standout - such a brooding and flawless introduction. However my real litmus test was to be D810 and I wasn't dissapointed - the control of tone at the lowest dynamic level is remarkable.

The sound is excellent and the music swells and recedes flawlessly.

Anyway, I have rabbited on long enough just buy it or suffer until you do.

Jolly Ol'Schubert, made in England.......2004-11-22

Judging by output in any one given year, Schubert has to be the greatest composer ever to have put the pen to the paper-by some margin. The proof in the pudding is the String Quintet, an hour of inspired, painfully beautiful chamber music. The slightly earlier string quartets are no mean feat either. "Death and the Maiden" and the Quartettsatz will make you fall in love with the genre if you are not already. The economic Lindsays set - as far as sets are concerned - is probably the finest available: emotional and vivacious, leading with a rendition of the quintet that has few, if any, rivals. Another famous quartet (on DG) has a similar set out, but the uninspired (if technically perfect) playing only shows why The Lindsays are the ones to go with.

P.S. There are cleaner accounts available on single discs that are just as spirited... the Quatour Mosaiques (Astree) would be worth your attention if you are not hunting for all of them at once!

Schubert: Quintet in C; Quartettsatz in C minor

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Schubert: Quintet in C; Quartettsatz in C minor

Manufacturer: Vanguard Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000239E
Release Date: 1993-04-07

Tracks:

String Quintet In C Major, Op. 163, D. 956: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quintet In C Major, Op. 163, D. 956: Adagio
String Quintet In C Major, Op. 163, D. 956: Scherzo (Presto) - Trio (Andante sostenuto) - Scherzo
String Quintet In C Major, Op. 163, D. 956: Allegretto - Piu allegro - Piu presto
Quartettsatz In C Minor, D. 703: Allegro assai

Music Review:

Music Review

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