Haydn: String Quartets, Op.76, Nos. 1-3

On this CD:

1. String Quartet No. 60 in G major, Op. 76/1, H. 3/75
Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performed by Andras Fejer, Gabor Ormai, Karoly Schranz, Takacs String Quartet, Gabor Takacs-Nagy

2. String Quartet No. 61 in D minor ("Fifths"/"The Bell'/"The Donkey"), Op. 76/2, H. 3/76
Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performed by Andras Fejer, Gabor Ormai, Karoly Schranz, Takacs String Quartet, Gabor Takacs-Nagy

3. String Quartet No. 62 in C major ("Emperor"), Op. 76/3, H. 3/77
Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performed by Andras Fejer, Gabor Ormai, Karoly Schranz, Takacs String Quartet, Gabor Takacs-Nagy

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
With his late string quartets, Haydn's mastery of convention had grown to the point where his imagination was utterly unfettered, illustrating Robert Frost's famous dictum that "freedom is working easy in harness." On these 1987 and 1988 recordings, the Takacs Quartet, a flamboyant ensemble founded in 1975, plays the six Opus 76 essays in that spirit. Their highly profiled accounts possess exceptional expressive intensity but are always in good taste. Fittingly, these more public expressions of Haydn's genius have been captured in reverberant spaces--the Schubertsaal of Vienna's Konzerthaus for Nos. 1-3, and St. Barnabas's in London for the final three--in recordings of striking, in-your-face presence. --Ted Libbey

Tracks:

String quartet in G major, op.76 no.1: Allegro con spirito
String quartet in G major, op.76 no.1: Adagio sostenuto
String quartet in G major, op.76 no.1: Menuetto: Presto
String quartet in G major, op.76 no.1: Finale: Allegro ma non troppo
String quartet in D minor, op.76 no.2: Allegro
String quartet in D minor, op.76 no.2: Andante o piu tosto allegretto
String quartet in D minor, op.76 no.2: Allegro ma non troppo
String quartet in D minor, op.76 no.2: Vivace assai
String quartet in C major, op.76 no.3: : Allegro
String quartet in C major, op.76 no.3: Poco adagio, cantabile
String quartet in C major, op.76 no.3: Menuetto: Allegro
String quartet in C major, op.76 no.3: Finale: Presto

Customer Reviews:

Buy This!.......2007-05-20

Whether you are a Haydn connosieur, or even a newbie curious in regard to this work (perhaps the greatest achievement in String Quartet history), this recording is outstanding. Although I might put the historically performed rendition of these works by the Quatuor Mosaique on a higher level of preference, it's simply my own personal taste (I often prefer performances of these works on period instruments...you might not). You can't go wrong with this cd. All the music is brought out in striking fashion by the Kodaly Q.

Don't even consider this one too much: GET it.

Here we go again trying words.......2006-06-04

Well, it is not often in my music collection of several hundred "classical" CD's that I find music that still moves me to tears. The quartets are so interesting for me on all levels and how could you find them better played? Many of Haydn's quartets are worth purchase but opus 76 has a special place in this genre. Every composer has a special area where he (not many she's unfortunately) has mastered. One thinks of Mozart and the operas or Beethoven and the symphonies. Well here is where Haydn has never been surpassed.

Unique Music.......2006-03-08

I don't really have add anything about this CD. The performances are excellent as is the recorded sound. I would like to say that new classical music lovers who have yet to advance to chamber music, should really enjoy this great music. The two named quartets are especially good with the finale of the 3rd quartet being one of my favorite movements in all of music.

Haydn at his most enjoyable and approachable.......2005-10-28

Do the recordings on this CD rank at the greatest of Haydn's work? IMHO, no (I reserve that for certain of his symphonies and masses); however, is everything you eat chock full of all of the nutrients you need with only the minimum amount of calories? The artists approach the music with style and delicacy. If you are or live with an aficionado of this musical era, I encourage you to add this CD to your/his/her collection.

wonderful recordings but be warned..........2005-09-22

if you are reading some of the other reviews saying that this music is as good as anything Mozart ever composed, beware. These quartets are excellent - and are worth owning if for no reason other than Haydn being an instrumental figure in the birth of the quartet as we know it. Haydn is credited with being a pioneer in developing independent voicing of all 4 instruments, and these mature late quartets show off his mastery of the form. However, these quartets are NOT Mozart. Haydn was an excellent composer, and while exceedingly original and inventive in his techniques and phrasings, his music does not resonate with the sheer genius of Mozart's late quartets (from K. 387 on). So if you are looking for something Mozartean here, you will not find it. If you are looking to discover more excellent music in the Classical style from the father of the Classical style, then you should definitely pick these discs up. Not only are the performances and recordings excellent, but at this price you cannot go wrong.

Average customer rating:

Haydn: String Quartets, Op.76, Nos. 1-3

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 76 4-6
Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 76, Nos. 4, 5 and 6

ASIN: B0000041U9
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Str Qt in G, op.76 no.1: Allegro con spirito
Str Qt in G, op.76 no.1: Adagio sostenuto
Str Qt in G, op.76 no.1: Menuetto: Presto
Str Qt in G, op.76 no.1: Allegro ma non troppo
Str Qt in d, op.76 no.2 'Fifths': Allegro
Str Qt in d, op.76 no.2 'Fifths': Andante o piu tosto allegretto
Str Qt in d, op.76 no.2 'Fifths': Menuetto: Allegro ma non troppo
Str Qt in d, op.76 no.2 'Fifths': Vivace assai
Str Qt in C, op.76 no.3 'Emperor': Allegro
Str Qt in C, op.76 no.3 'Emperor': Poco adagio, cantabile
Str Qt in C, op.76 no.3 'Emperor': Menuetto: Allegro
Str Qt in C, op.76 no.3 'Emperor': Finale: Presto

Amazon.com essential recording

With his late string quartets, Haydn's mastery of convention had grown to the point where his imagination was utterly unfettered, illustrating Robert Frost's famous dictum that "freedom is working easy in harness." On these 1987 and 1988 recordings, the Takacs Quartet, a flamboyant ensemble founded in 1975, plays the six Opus 76 essays in that spirit. Their highly profiled accounts possess exceptional expressive intensity but are always in good taste. Fittingly, these more public expressions of Haydn's genius have been captured in reverberant spaces--the Schubertsaal of Vienna's Konzerthaus for Nos. 1-3, and St. Barnabas's in London for the final three--in recordings of striking, in-your-face presence. --Ted Libbey

Average customer rating:

Haydn: String Quartets, Op.76, Nos.1-3
Franz Joseph Haydn , and Carmina Quartet
Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000034UC
Release Date: 1994-09-13

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 75 In G Major, Op. 76 No. 1, Hob. III-75: I - Allegro con spirito
String Quartet No. 75 In G Major, Op. 76 No. 1, Hob. III-75: II - Adagio sostenuto
String Quartet No. 75 In G Major, Op. 76 No. 1, Hob. III-75: III - Menuet.; Presto
String Quartet No. 75 In G Major, Op. 76 No. 1, Hob. III-75: IV - Finale; Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 76 In D Minor, Op. 76 No. 2, Hob. III-76 'Quinten - Fifths': I - Allegro
String Quartet No. 76 In D Minor, Op. 76 No. 2, Hob. III-76 'Quinten - Fifths': II - Andante o piu tosto Allegretto
String Quartet No. 76 In D Minor, Op. 76 No. 2, Hob. III-76 'Quinten - Fifths': III - Menuet.; Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 76 In D Minor, Op. 76 No. 2, Hob. III-76 'Quinten - Fifths': IV - Finale; Vivace assai
String Quartet No. 77 In C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III-77 'Kaiser - Emporer': I - Allegro
String Quartet No. 77 In C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III-77 'Kaiser - Emporer': II - Poco Adagio. Cantabile
String Quartet No. 77 In C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III-77 'Kaiser - Emporer': III - Menuet.; Allegro
String Quartet No. 77 In C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III-77 'Kaiser - Emporer': IV - Finale; Presto