Quartets 3, 4, 9 & 12

On this CD:

1. String Quartet No. 12, Op. 252
Composed by Darius Milhaud
Performed by Jean-Michel Berrette, Thierry Brodard, Dominique Lobet, Jean-Philippe Martignoni, Parisii Quatuor

2. String Quartet No. 4, Op. 46
Composed by Darius Milhaud
Performed by Jean-Michel Berrette, Thierry Brodard, Dominique Lobet, Jean-Philippe Martignoni, Parisii Quatuor

3. String Quartet No. 9, Op. 140
Composed by Darius Milhaud
Performed by Jean-Michel Berrette, Thierry Brodard, Dominique Lobet, Jean-Philippe Martignoni, Parisii Quatuor

4. String Quartet No. 3 with solo voice, Op. 32
Composed by Darius Milhaud
Performed by Jean-Michel Berrette, Thierry Brodard, Veronique Dietschy, Dominique Lobet, Jean-Philippe Martignoni, Parisii Quatuor

Tracks:

Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: I: Allegro Con Brio - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: II: Adagio Affettuoso Ed Appassionato - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: III: Scherzo (Allegro Molto) & Trio - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: IV: Allegro - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 59 No. 1 In F Major 'Rasumovsky': I: Allegro - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 59 No. 1 In F Major 'Rasumovsky': II: Allegretto Vivace E Sempre Scherzando - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 59 No. 1 In F Major 'Rasumovsky': III: Adagio molto e mesto : IV: Allegro (Th russe) - Alban Berg Quartett

Tracks:

Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: I: Allegro - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: II: Adagio cantabile - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: III: Scherzo (Allegro) & Trio - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: IV: Allegro molto, quasi presto - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 6 In B Flat Major: I: Allegro con brio - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 6 In B Flat Major: II: Adagio, ma non troppo - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 6 In B Flat Major: III: Scherzo (Allegro) & Trio - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 18 No. 6 In B Flat Major: IV: Adagio (La Malinconia) - Allegretto quasi Allegro - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 135 In F Major: I: Allegretto - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 135 In F Major: II: Vivace - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 135 In F Major: III: Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo - Alban Berg Quartett
Op. 135 In F Major: IV: Grave, ma non troppo tratto - Allegro - Alban Berg Quartett

Tracks:

Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: I. Allegro
Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: II. Andante con moto
III. Allegro
Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: IV. Presto
Op. 18 No. 5 in A Major: I. Allegro
Op. 18 No. 5 in A Major: II. Menuetto & Trio
Op. 18 No. 5 in A Major: III. Andante cantabile
Op. 18 No. 5 in A Major: IV. Allegro
Op. 95 In F Minor: I. Allegro con brio
Op. 95 In F Minor: II. Allegretto ma non troppo
Op. 95 In F Minor: III: Allegro assai vivace, ma serioso

Tracks:

Op. 18 No. 4 In C Minor: I. Allegro ma non tanto
Op. 18 No. 4 In C Minor: II. Scherzo (Andante scherzoso quasi Allegretto)
Op. 18 No. 4 In C Minor: III. Menuetto (Allegretto) & Trio
Op. 18 No. 4 In C Minor: IV. Allegro
Op. 130 in B flat Major: I. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro
Op. 130 in B flat Major: II. Presto
Op. 130 in B flat Major: III. Andante con moto, ma non troppo
Op. 130 in B flat Major: IV. Alla danza tedesca (Allegro assai)
Op. 130 in B flat Major: V Cavatina (Adagio molto espressivo)
Grosse Fuge In B Flat Major, Op. 133
Op. 130 in B flat Major: VI. Finale (Allegro)

Tracks:

Op. 59 No. 2 In E Minor 'Rasumovsky': I: Allegro
Op. 59 No. 2 In E Minor 'Rasumovsky': II: Molto Allegro
Op. 59 No. 2 In E Minor 'Rasumovsky': III: Allegretto
Op. 59 No. 2 In E Minor 'Rasumovsky': IV: Finale (Presto)
Op. 127 In E Flat Major: I: Maaestoso - Allegro
Op. 127 In E Flat Major: II: Adagio ma non troppo, molto cantabile
Op. 127 In E Flat Major: III: Scherzando vivace
Op. 127 In E Flat Major: IV: Finale

Tracks:

Op. 59 No. 3 In C Major 'Rasumovsky': I: Introduzione (Andante con moto) - Allegro vivace
Op. 59 No. 3 In C Major 'Rasumovsky': II: Andante con moto quasi allegretto
Op. 59 No. 3 In C Major 'Rasumovsky': III: Menuetto (Grazioso) & Trio
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: I: Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: II: Allegro molto vivace
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: III: Allegro moderato
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: IV: Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: V: Presto
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: VI: Adagio quasi un poco andante
Op. 131 In C Sharp Minor: VI: Adagio quasi un poco andante

Tracks:

Op. 74 In E Flat Major 'Harp': I Poco adagio - Allegro - Beethoven
Op. 74 In E Flat Major 'Harp': II. Adagio ma non troppo - Beethoven
Op. 74 In E Flat Major 'Harp': III. Presto - Beethoven
Op. 74 In E Flat Major 'Harp': IV: Allegretto con Variazioni - Beethoven
Op.132 In A Minor: I: Allegro sostenuto - Allegro - Beethoven
Op.132 In A Minor: II: Allegro ma non tanto - Beethoven
Op.132 In A Minor: III: Molto adagio - Beethoven
Op.132 In A Minor: IV: Alla marcia, assai vivace - Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful Beethoven cycle.......2007-06-18

This is a fine recording, remastered for the reissue. Intelligent, driving, finely played. Excellent musicianship. Buy it. You won't be sorry you did.

A LONG TIME COMING AT THIS PRICE .......2007-06-02

On LP I own any number of complete Beethoven String Quartets by the great masters of that genre. I bought them all as a teenager and in college. When I started buying CDs a complete Beethoven set for over $100 by a great quartet became out of my price range at the time. To find the Berg Quartet, (a favorite group of mine), surveying these great works at this price from Amazon is one of the best bargains going.

I went immediately to Op. 135 and found it marvelous in concept, execution and recording. I've now listened to almost all the quartets, and the consistency is wonderful. Because I'm in the business I'm using only high end professional equipment for playback and the sound is truly "You Are There". The recordings capture the upper overtones of all the instruments without the least harhsness, no mean feat. The blend of the group and the hall is articulated in a way that happens on only a very few recordings. Ocassionally one can hear a minor difference in what might be placement of microphones, even from movement to movement. This could, in fact, be the result of a temperature or humidity change in the recording venue. You have to pay very close attention to notice this and it does nothing to diminish these sonic wonders) Worth thrice the price.

What more can be said?.......2007-02-03

There are many wonderful performances of these remarkable pieces. Which is the finest? Only God, in his wisdom, will ever be able to answer such a question, but I'm sure with his celestial headphones on he'll be listening to the Alban Berg Quartet. For me this quartet is able to "read" each individual quartet with such clarity, from the light hearted humor of the Op.18 to the intense and darkly passionate Op.95 through to the strangely happy yet unearthly Op.135, with many other wonderful moments, that I can hardly imagine any better. You won't go wrong buying this.

With the Best of the Best.......2006-12-14

I know it's saying a great deal with the excellent full sets of these quartets to choose from, but these overall are my favorites. The playing is excellent, balanced and perfectly toned. There are unquestionably the deep emotional commitment of the Vegh Quartet, the intelligence of the Juilliard, the parlor intimacy of the Talisch and the muscular intensity of the Italiano. And the serious collector needs to listen to these sets, or selections of, for a rounded understanding of these works. But for a consistency of quality and feeling throughout a traversal of all the quartets I believe the Berg set wins an arguably close contest--at least for me.

What sound problems????.......2006-11-14

I am only writing this review in dispute of RB Townsend remarks below.
I have been listening to this mostly Live set for a few years now on high end Audiophile equipment and notice NO problems with sound at all.
It is clear, clean, crisp, transparent and rich with no "glare" at all.
if it is "well lit", this would suit Beethoven's strings perfectly.
An absolutely stunning performance with a Superb sound stage and sound.
All the other reviewers and the buyers who agree with their assessments (a hundred of them) can't be wrong.
With all due respect, Perhaps Mr. Townsend is listening to this on an Aiwa bookshelf System. Perhaps.

Average customer rating:

This set or the Auryn Quartet set?
Buy it for the right reasons
Great Music for a Good Price

Schubert: The String Quartets

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
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

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
Dvorák: The String Quartets
Schubert: 8 Symphonies
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano

ASIN: B00002DEH3
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

String Quartet (In Various Keys), D 18 (No.1): Andante - Presto vivace
String Quartet (In Various Keys), D 18 (No.1): Menuetto
String Quartet (In Various Keys), D 18 (No.1): Andante
String Quartet (In Various Keys), D 18 (No.1): Presto
String Quartet in C major, D 32 (No.2): Presto
String Quartet in C major, D 32 (No.2): Andante
String Quartet in C major, D 32 (No.2): Menuetto. Allegro
String Quartet in C major, D 32 (No.2): Allegro con spirito
String Quartet in B flat major, D 36 (No.3): Allegro
String Quartet in B flat major, D 36 (No.3): Andante
String Quartet in B flat major, D 36 (No.3): Menuetto. Allegro non troppo
String Quartet in B flat major, D 36 (No.3): Allegretto
Quartet Movement In C Minor, D 103: Grave - Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet in C major, D 46 (No.4): Adagio - Allegro con moto
String Quartet in C major, D 46 (No.4): Andante con moto
String Quartet in C major, D 46 (No.4): Menuetto. Allegro
String Quartet in C major, D 46 (No.4): Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, D 68 (No.5): Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, D 68 (No.5): Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, D 74 (No. 6): Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In D Major, D 74 (No. 6): Andante
String Quartet In D Major, D 74 (No. 6): Menuetto. Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, D 74 (No. 6): Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet In D Major, D 94 (No. 7): Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, D 94 (No. 7): Andante con moto
String Quartet In D Major, D 94 (No. 7): Menuetto. Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, D 94 (No. 7): Presto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, D 112 (No. 8): Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, D 112 (No. 8): Andante sostenuto
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, D 112 (No. 8): Menuetto. Allegro
String Quartet In B-Flat Major, D 112 (No. 8): Presto
String Quartet In G Minor, D 173 (No. 9): Allegro con brio
String Quartet In G Minor, D 173 (No. 9): Andantino
String Quartet In G Minor, D 173 (No. 9): Menuetto. Allegro vivace
String Quartet In G Minor, D 173 (No. 9): Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 1, D 87 (No. 10): Allegro moderato
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 1, D 87 (No. 10): Adagio
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 1, D 87 (No. 10): Scherzo. Prestissimo
String Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 1, D 87 (No. 10): Allegro
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 29, No. 1, D 804 (No. 13) 'Rosamunde': Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 29, No. 1, D 804 (No. 13) 'Rosamunde': Andante
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 29, No. 1, D 804 (No. 13) 'Rosamunde': Menuetto. Allegretto
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 29, No. 1, D 804 (No. 13) 'Rosamunde': Allegro moderato

Tracks:

String Quartet In E Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 2, D 353 (No. 11): Allegro con fuoco
String Quartet In E Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 2, D 353 (No. 11): Andante
String Quartet In E Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 2, D 353 (No. 11): Menuetto. Allegro vivace
String Quartet In E Major, Op. Post. 125, No. 2, D 353 (No. 11): Rondo. Allegro vivace
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 (No. 14) 'Death And The Maiden': Allegro
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 (No. 14) 'Death And The Maiden': Andante con moto
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 (No. 14) 'Death And The Maiden': Scherzo. Allegro molto
String Quartet In D Minor, D 810 (No. 14) 'Death And The Maiden': Presto

Tracks:

Quartet Movement In C Minor, D 703 (No. 12): Allegro assai
String Quartet In G Major, Op. Post. 161, D 887 (No. 15): Allegro molto moderato
String Quartet In G Major, Op. Post. 161, D 887 (No. 15): Andante un poco moto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. Post. 161, D 887 (No. 15): Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio. Allegretto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. Post. 161, D 887 (No. 15): Allegro assai

Customer Reviews:

This set or the Auryn Quartet set?.......2004-06-06

I read, in a book on string quartets, the statement: "More than half of the best string quartets had been written when Schubert died in 1828". I agree, but would put the percentage at more like 75 or 80%. The author went on to include all of Schubert's, even those that he wrote as a teenager. I was surprised by this comment, but now, having now heard his complete string quartets, I have to agree. Even his early ones are superb!

To the recordings: I was just a bit disappointed. The sound seems a bit harsh in places, not as warm as sets I have by the Quartetto Italiano (Beethoven), Melos Quartet (Mozart) and Aoelian Q (Haydn). No doubt they are technically very correct, and show real liveliness - the violins just sound a bit scratchy in places.

The only other complete set seems to be the Auryn Quartet recording, highly recommended by the Penguin guide, but twice as expensive. Naxos offers 12 or the 15 quartets on 5 separate CDs. I'd liked to have heard the Auryn recording before I'd made the decision to purchase this one - who knows, I might have made the same decision anyway.

Buy it for the right reasons.......2002-10-04

I agree with the other review, but there is an alternative to this set, by the Auryn Quartet, and it is also excellent. So, buy this set for the right reasons, whatever those are, such as: the sound quality of this Chamber Ensemble (extremely warm)
or the overall feel of their playing (caring, respectful). Buy the set from the Auryn quartet if you care more about the sound quality of the recording (it is noticeably better) or if you happen to like a younger, slightly more aggressive approach.
Frankly I have both sets, and love both.

Great Music for a Good Price.......2002-05-02

I bought this set in Dec. '01 and it has since become a favorite in my collection. Schubert is a great composer and in my opinion, the quartets are where he really shines.

Sadly, it is hard to find recordings of all but the last four. In total, there are fourteen plus two fragments- one incomplete and one lost. They are all here and at such a good deal!

The first two discs (first five quartets and a fragment) really stand out. These were quartets Schubert composed as a student and they capture well the energy of youth and have a beautifully simple quality that always makes Schubert stand out. The middle discs track his early career with a more mature motif development revealing a taste of the boldness to come from his later quartets. Not as melodic as the first quartets in my opinion, but a treat nonetheless. Then ah! the last three discs. "Rosamunde," "Death and the maiden," Quartettstatz and C 703. Can you possibly go wrong? Don't answer that. You know it doesn't get better!!

Now we come to recording quality. Well, the Melos Quartet recorded these in the mid 70's. They've been digitally touched up and well done. Still, not convincing enough to sound like new. Treble and Mid is alright but the Bass is really lacking and overall, it still lacks the full sound of recordings from the Emerson and Tokyo quartets. Still, with touchup, these recordings sound more like late 80's- Not Bad!

Tracks:

Str Qt in E flat, Op.0: I. Presto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.0: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.0: III. Adagio
Str Qt in E flat, Op.0: IV. Menuetto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.0: V. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.1 No.1: I. Presto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.1 No.1: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.1 No.1: III. Adagio
Str Qt in B flat, Op.1 No.1: IV. Menuetto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.1 No.1: V. Presto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.1 No.2: I. Allegro
Str Qt in E flat, Op.1 No.2: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.1 No.2: III. Adagio
Str Qt in E flat, Op.1 No.2: IV. Menuetto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.1 No.2: V. Presto
Str Qt in D, Op.1 No.3: I. Adagio
Str Qt in D, Op.1 No.3: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in D, Op.1 No.3: III. Presto
Str Qt in D, Op.1 No.3: IV. Menuetto
Str Qt in D, Op.1 No.3: V. Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Str Qt in G, Op.1 No.4: I. Presto
Str Qt in G, Op.1 No.4: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in G, Op.1 No.4: III. Adagio Ma Non Tanto
Str Qt in G, Op.1 No.4: IV. Menuetto
Str Qt in G, Op.1 No.4: V. Presto
Str Qt in C, Op.1 No.6: I. Presto Assai
Str Qt in C, Op.1 No.6: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in C, Op.1 No.6: III. Adagio
Str Qt in C, Op.1 No.6: IV. Menuetto
Str Qt in C, Op.1 No.6: V. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in A, Op.2 No.1: I. Allegro
Str Qt in A, Op.2 No.1: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in A, Op.2 No.1: III. Adagio
Str Qt in A, Op.2 No.1: IV. Menuetto
Str Qt in A, Op.2 No.1: V. Allegro Molto

Tracks:

Str Qt in E, Op.2 No.2: I. Allegro Molto
Str Qt in E, Op.2 No.2: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in E, Op.2 No.2: III. Adagio
Str Qt in E, Op.2 No.2: IV. Menuetto
Str Qt in E, Op.2 No.2: V. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in F, Op.2 No.4: I. Presto
Str Qt in F, Op.2 No.4: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in F, Op.2 No.4: III. Adagio
Str Qt in F, Op.2 No.4: IV Menuetto: Allegretto
Str Qt in F, Op.2 No.4: V. Allegro
Str Qt in B flat, Op.2 No.6: I. Adagio
Str Qt in B flat, Op.2 No.6: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.2 No.6: III. Presto: Scherzo
Str Qt in B flat, Op.2 No.6: IV. Menuetto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.2 No.6: V. Presto

Tracks:

Str Qt in C, Op.9 No.1: I. Moderato
Str Qt in C, Op.9 No.1: II. Menuetto: Un Poco Allegretto
Str Qt in C, Op.9 No.1: III. Adagio
Str Qt in C, Op.9 No.1: IV. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.9 No.2: I. Moderato
Str Qt in E flat, Op.9 No.2: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.9 No.2: III. Adagio
Str Qt in E flat, Op.9 No.2: IV. Finale: Allegro Molto
Str Qt in G, Op.9 No.3: I. Allegro Moderato
Str Qt in G, Op.9 No.3: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in G, Op.9 No.3: III. Largo
Str Qt in G, Op.9 No.3: IV. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in d, Op.9 No.4: I. Moderato
Str Qt in d, Op.9 No.4: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in d, Op.9 No.4: III. Adagio Cantabile
Str Qt in d, Op.9 No.4: IV. Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Str Qt in B flat, Op.9 No.5: I. Poco Adagio: Theme And Vars
Str Qt in B flat, Op.9 No.5: II. Menuet: Allegretto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.9 No.5: III. Largo Cantabile
Str Qt in B flat, Op.9 No.5: IV. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in A, Op.9 No.6: I. Presto
Str Qt in A, Op.9 No.6: II. Menuetto
Str Qt in A, Op.9 No.6: III. Adagio
Str Qt in A, Op.9 No.6: IV. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in E, Op.17 No.1: I. Moderato
Str Qt in E, Op.17 No.1: II. Menuet
Str Qt in E, Op.17 No.1: III. Adagio
Str Qt in E, Op.17 No.1: IV. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in F, Op.17 No.2: I. Moderato
Str Qt in F, Op.17 No.2: II. Menuet: Poco Allegretto
Str Qt in F, Op.17 No.2: III. Adagio
Str Qt in F, Op.17 No.2: IV. Finale: Allegro Di Molto

Tracks:

Str Qt in E flat, Op.17 No.3: I. Andante Grazioso
Str Qt in E flat, Op.17 No.3: II. Menuet: Allegretto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.17 No.3: III. Adagio
Str Qt in E flat, Op.17 No.3: IV. Allegro Di Molto
Str Qt in c, Op.17 No.4: I. Moderato
Str Qt in c, Op.17 No.4: II. Menuet: Allegretto
Str Qt in c, Op.17 No.4: III. Adagio Cantabile
Str Qt in c, Op.17 No.4: IV. Finale: Allegro
Str Qt in G, Op.17 No.5: I. Moderato
Str Qt in G, Op.17 No.5: II. Menuet: Allegretto
Str Qt in G, Op.17 No.5: III. Adagio
Str Qt in G, Op.17 No.5: IV. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in D, Op.17 No.6: I. Presto
Str Qt in D, Op.17 No.6: II. Menuet
Str Qt in D, Op.17 No.6: III. Largo
Str Qt in D, Op.17 No.6: IV. Finale: Allegro

Tracks:

Str Qt in E flat, Op.20 No.1: I. Allegro Moderato
Str Qt in E flat, Op.20 No.1: II. Menuet: Un Poco Allegretto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.20 No.1: III. Affettuoso E Sostenuto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.20 No.1: IV. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in C, Op.20 No.2: I. Moderato
Str Qt in C, Op.20 No.2: II. Capriccio: Adagio
Str Qt in C, Op.20 No.2: III. Menuet: Allegretto
Str Qt in C, Op.20 No.2: IV. Fuga A Quattro Soggeti: Allegro
Str Qt in g, Op.20 No.3: I. Allegro Con Spirito
Str Qt in g, Op.20 No.3: II. Menuet: Allegretto
Str Qt in g, Op.20 No.3: III. Poco Adagio
Str Qt in g, Op.20 No.3: IV. Allegro Di Molto

Tracks:

Str Qt in D, Op.20 No.4: I. Allegro Di Molto
Str Qt in D, Op.20 No.4: II. Un Poco Adagio E Affettuoso
Str Qt in D, Op.20 No.4: II. Menuet Alla Zingarese
Str Qt in D, Op.20 No.4: IV. Presto E Scherzando
Str Qt in f, Op.20 No.5: I. Moderato
Str Qt in f, Op.20 No.5: II. Menuet
Str Qt in f, Op.20 No.5: III. Adagio
Str Qt in f, Op.20 No.5: IV. Fuga A Due Soggetti
Str Qt in A, Op.20 No.6: I. Allegro Di Molto E Scherzando
Str Qt in A, Op.20 No.6: II. Adagio
Str Qt in A, Op.20 No.6: III. Menuetto
Str Qt in A, Op.20 No.6: IV. Fuga A Tre Soggetti: Allegro

Tracks:

Str Qt in b, Op.33 No.1: I. Allegro Moderato
Str Qt in b, Op.33 No.1: II. Scherzo: Allegro
Str Qt in b, Op.33 No.1: III. Andante
Str Qt in b, Op.33 No.1: IV. Presto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.33 No.2 'The Joke': I. Allegro Moderato, Cantabile
Str Qt in E flat, Op.33 No.2 'The Joke': II. Scherzo: Allegro
Str Qt in E flat, Op.33 No.2 'The Joke': III. Largo Sostenuto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.33 No.2 'The Joke': IV. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in C, Op.33 No.3 'The Bird': I. Allegro Moderato
Str Qt in C, Op.33 No.3 'The Bird': II. Scherzo: Allegretto
Str Qt in C, Op.33 No.3 'The Bird': III. Adagio
Str Qt in C, Op.33 No.3 'The Bird': IV. Rondo: Presto

Tracks:

Str Qt in B flat, Op.33 No.4: I. Allegro Moderato
Str Qt in B flat, Op.33 No.4: II. Scherzo: Allegretto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.33 No.4: III. Largo
Str Qt in B flat, Op.33 No.4: IV. Presto
Str Qt in G, Op.33 No.5: I. Vivace Assai
Str Qt in G, Op.33 No.5: II. Largo E Cantabile
Str Qt in G, Op.33 No.5: III. Scherzo: Allegro
Str Qt in G, Op.33 No.5: IV. Finale: Allegretto
Str Qt in D, Op.33 No.6: I. Vivace Assai
Str Qt in D, Op.33 No.6: II. Andante
Str Qt in D, Op.33 No.6: III. Scherzo: Allegretto
Str Qt in D, Op.33 No.6: IV. Finale: Allegretto
Str Qt in d, Op.42: I. Andante Ed Innocentemente
Str Qt in d, Op.42: II. Menuet
Str Qt in d, Op.42: III. Adagio E Cantabile
Str Qt in d, Op.42: IV. Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Str Qt in B flat, Op.50 No.1: I. Allegro
Str Qt in B flat, Op.50 No.1: II. Adagio Non Lento
Str Qt in B flat, Op.50 No.1: III. Poco Allegretto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.50 No.1: IV. Finale: Vivace
Str Qt in C, Op.50 No.2: I. Vivace
Str Qt in C, Op.50 No.2: II. Adagio Cantabile
Str Qt in C, Op.50 No.2: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
Str Qt in C, Op.50 No.2: IV. Finale: Vivace Assai
Str Qt in E flat, Op.50 No.3: I. Allegro Con Brio
Str Qt in E flat, Op.50 No.3: II. Andante Piu Tosto Allegretto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.50 No.3: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.50 No.3: IV. Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Str Qt in f#, Op.50 No.4: I. Allegro Spirito
Str Qt in f#, Op.50 No.4: II. Andante
Str Qt in f#, Op.50 No.4: III. Menuetto
Str Qt in f#, Op.50 No.4: IV. Fuga: Allegro Moderato
Str Qt in F, Op.50 No.5: I. Allegro Moderato
Str Qt in F, Op.50 No.5: II. Poco Adagio
Str Qt in F, Op.50 No.5: III. Menuetto
Str Qt in F, Op.50 No.5: IV. Finale: Vivace
Str Qt in D, Op.50 No.6 'The Frog': I. Allegro
Str Qt in D, Op.50 No.6 'The Frog': II. Poco Adagio
Str Qt in D, Op.50 No.6 'The Frog': III. Menuetto: Allegretto
Str Qt in D, Op.50 No.6 'The Frog': IV. Finale: Allegro Con Spirito

Tracks:

Str Qt inG, Op.54 No.1: I. Vivace Assai
Str Qt inG, Op.54 No.1: II. Allegretto
Str Qt inG, Op.54 No.1: III. Menuet
Str Qt inG, Op.54 No.1: IV. Vivace
Str Qt in C, Op.54 No.2: I. Vivace
Str Qt in C, Op.54 No.2: II. Adagio -
Str Qt in C, Op.54 No.2: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
Str Qt in C, Op.54 No.2: IV. Adagio
Str Qt in E, Op.54 No.3: I. Allegretto
Str Qt in E, Op.54 No.3: II. Largo
Str Qt in E, Op.54 No.3: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
Str Qt in E, Op.54 No.3: IV. Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Str Qt in A, Op.55 No.1: I. Allegro
Str Qt in A, Op.55 No.1: II. Adagio Cantabile
Str Qt in A, Op.55 No.1: III. Menuet
Str Qt in A, Op.55 No.1: IV. Finale: Vivace
Str Qt in f, Op.55 No.2 'The Razor': I. Andante
Str Qt in f, Op.55 No.2 'The Razor': II. Allegro
Str Qt in f, Op.55 No.2 'The Razor': III. Menuetto: Allegretto
Str Qt in f, Op.55 No.2 'The Razor': IV. Presto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.55 No.3: I. Vivace Assai
Str Qt in B flat, Op.55 No.3: II. Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Str Qt in B flat, Op.55 No.3: III. Menuetto
Str Qt in B flat, Op.55 No.3: IV. Presto

Tracks:

Str Qt in C, Op.64 No.1: I. Allegro Moderato
Str Qt in C, Op.64 No.1: II. Menuet: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Str Qt in C, Op.64 No.1: III. Allegretto Scherzando
Str Qt in C, Op.64 No.1: IV. Finale: Presto
Str Qt in b, Op.64 No.3: I. Allegro Spirito
Str Qt in b, Op.64 No.3: II. Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Str Qt in b, Op.64 No.3: III. Menuet: Allegretto -

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

A massive set--67 string quartets on 21 discs in a budget-priced, shelf-friendly, compact box. So the obvious question is: do you need it? The equally obvious answer is a resounding "yes" if you love these endlessly inventive quartets and if you appreciate superbly played performances that capture both the letter and the spirit of Haydn's genius. The Angeles String Quartet isn't as well known as some ensembles that have recorded complete Haydn sets, but they are superior to all, with the arguable exception of the Tatrai Quartet. They demonstrate technical polish and rich, warm sound that's never cloying. And they give these works the forward-moving impetus they need within a classical framework, eschewing both anachronistic Romanticism and the mechanical astringency of period specialists.

The Angeles Quartet is unique in its mastery of early as well as late works, in tune with Haydn's stylistic development and sensitive to the attractions of each of these remarkable pieces. So they infuse the visionary slow movements of the late quartets with the appropriate depth and at the same time revel in the muscularity of the Opus 76 No.2's catchy Menuetto, the humor of the "Joke" Quartet, Opus 33 No.2, and the power of the Allegro con spirito of Opus 76 No.1. Most impressive is their way with the early quartets--no small matter when you consider that the contents of the first six discs precede the Opus 20 set generally considered as signaling the maturity of the form. The Angeles make even the earliest quartets, five-movement divertimentos for four strings, a habit-forming delight. Their playing here is full of exuberance, wittily playful and rough, peasantlike by turns. The sonics are outstanding, too, well-balanced, warm, and lifelike. An indispensable recording. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

A superb Haydn benchmark.......2007-06-28

It takes a lot of time to grasp Haydn's music, because there's much of everything: symphonies, piano sonatas, operas, piano trios, string quartets, choral works, songs, etc. - in sum, more than one thousand individual works. It will probably take more than a year listening to it all, and comprehend it as well (i.e., not as "background music"). Few, if any person, can have a complete grasp of everything he wrote.

But there are nonetheless good reasons trying to grasp Haydn's music, at least partly. This bargain set - 68 string quartets on 21 CDs - is a perfectly good reason. Haydn's string quartets contain some of his finest music. And the present recordings with Angeles Quartet are simply superb. Unlike many period instrument performers, Angeles Quartet avoids meticulous mannerism and plays this music with energy and passion, without loosing structural control. Furthermore, the recordings are excellent, with a rich, creamy and spacious sound. In short, great performances and excellent engineering. A benchmark recording, no less.

There are some rival complete sets: Aeolian Quartet (Decca), Festetics Quartet (period instrument performances, Arcana), Tátrai (Hungaroton), and Kodaly Quartet (Naxos). In terms of sound, the present set is clearly preferable. In terms of performances, the only serious rival is Tátrai Quartet's classic collection from the sixties. But Angeles Quartet is not a second choice. If you hesitate, you need both. Budget and shelf space minded collectors need not hesitate.

Perfect Dinner Music.......2007-05-14

Some might be offended at the idea that music be played in the background to accompany a fine meal, but in fact most of us listen to music in the background. This entire set of 15-CDs is (to my ears) the perfect music to accompany a delicious meal with someone you love. I have owned this CD set for years and never tire of it.

I have found that after listening to it hundreds of times that using iTunes in shuffle mode keeps it fresh.

Delightful Background Music.......2006-03-04

This music is a great buy, and wonderful to listen to while doing desk work or reading.

The Angeles String Quartet does an excellent job, and all of the works are so tuneful that I frequently found myself walking around the house humming the tunes after hearing a quartet for the first time.

He truly is the father of string quartets!.......2005-09-27

This may not be true as far as the instrumentation is concerned, but Haydn is one of the first to explore them as more than a solo violin with a trio accompaniment (second violin, viola and cello), thus giving the chamber music a new dimension.

If you've already explored Haydn's universe through some of his glorious symphonies, these string quartets are an excellent way of further expanding your appreciation of Haydn's music. There are very few dull moments in this lot (and almost all of them are to be found in his early quartets, while there are a few in his very latest works, where he seems to have lost the energy and brio that had established him as one of the best composers of his time). His first works have five movements and ressemble the divertimenti or serenatas. Later on, his quartets took a form which was to become standard, both for Haydn and other composers: four movements - a fast one, a slow one, a minuet and trio and a fast finale.

If one listens to Haydn's string quartes in chronological order, one can feel and appreciate his growth and maturity as a composer. The motives introduced during the first movement are developed over the entire work entity, the increasing use of first movements that are monothematic, the expansion of harmonic usage, the combination of serious with funny, intellectual with ridicule, etc.

Both Mozart and Beethoven wrote famous series of string quartets, but I've always liked Haydn's quartets the most. My personal favorites are op. 76 (especially no 3, which later on became the German National Anthem), op. 64 (especially no 5 called "The lark") and op. 33 (where Haydn introduced special effects, like a birdcall, which gave the third quartet its name).

A matter of taste?.......2005-05-31

It is something unpleasant about the sound here; it is resonant, yes, but not like the Takacs quartet. Comparing to the Takacs' take on op.76/1, 2 & 3, which I love, the Angeles' makes me think of a grey substance, sterile, antiseptic, of no life. Is it the sound quality? Or is it the way the quartet is playing? I think the latter, but it is difficult to figure out what is wrong; in fact I don't find any serious miscalculations. The problem is that the playing feels calculated; it is some kind of contrived perfection, it all feels too concious; I feel something wrong about the accent, the stress of the phrasings... but I give up: Suffice it to say that I regret I bought this collection of boring performances. Three stars for professional playing. If you like some human touch, go for the Aeolian quartet, less perfection, more life.

Average customer rating:

Hum a little Shostakovich
Not just a bargain--a must-have
lusterless
Rating this bargain set against the Emersons at full price
A triumph of creativity over censorship

Shostakovich: The String Quartets

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000042HV
Release Date: 1998-02-10

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 3 In F Major, Op. 73: I. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 3 In F Major, Op. 73: II. Moderato con moto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 3 In F Major, Op. 73: III. Allegro non troppo - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 3 In F Major, Op. 73: IV. Adagio - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 3 In F Major, Op. 73: V. Moderato - Adagio - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 4 In D Major, Op. 83: I. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 4 In D Major, Op. 83: II. Andantino - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 4 In D Major, Op. 83: III. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich

Tracks:

String Quartet No .5 In B flat Major, Op. 92: I. Allegro non troppo - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 5 In B Flat Major, Op. 92: II. Andante - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 5 In B Flat Major, Op. 92: III. Moderato - Allegretto - Andante - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 6 In G Major, Op. 101: I. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 6 In G Major, Op. 101: II. Moderato con moto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 6 In G Major, Op. 101: III. Lento - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No.6 in G Major, Op. 101: IV. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 7 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 108: I. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 7 zIn F Sharp Minor, Op. 108: II. Lento - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 7 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 108: III. Allegro - Allegretto - D. Shostakovich

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 110: I. Largo - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 110: II. Allegro molto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 110: III. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 110: IV. Largo - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 110: V. Largo - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 117: I. Moderato con moto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 117: II. Adagio - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 117: III. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 117: IV. Adagio - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 117: V. Allegro - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 118: I. Andante - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 118: II. Allegretto furioso - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 118: III. Adagio - - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 118: IV. Allegretto - Andante - D. Shostakovich

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: I. Introduction: Andantino - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: II. Scherzo: Allegretto - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: III. Recitative: Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: IV. Etude: Allegro - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: V. Humoresque: Allegro - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: VI. Elegy: Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: I. Finale: Moderato - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 12 In D Flat Major, Op. 133: II. Moderato - Allegreto - Dmitri Shostakovich
Allegretto - Adagio - Moderato - Allegreto - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 138: Adagio - Doppio movimento - Tempo primo - Dmitri Shostakovich

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 14 In F Major, Op. 142: I. Allegretto - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 14 In F Major, Op. 142: II. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 14 In F Major, Op. 142: III. Allegretto - Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: I. Elegy. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: II. Serenade. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: III. Intermezzo. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: IV. Nocturne. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: V. Funeral March. Adagio molto - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: VI. Epilogue. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich

Amazon.com

The Fitzwilliam Quartet is English by birth but shows a lot of Russian soul in these works, which were recorded in consultation with the composer. Their technique is flawless, their immersion in the music total, their interaction with one another and with the music spontaneous and intense. Priced competitively with the Borodin Quartet, they do not have any added attraction to match the Piano Quintet in that set, but this close-up stereo recording is significantly better. Highlights of the set include the relaxed, folk-flavored No. 1; the tense, autobiographical No. 8, which recalls the terrors of World War II, quotes a lot of Shostakovich's earlier works, and mourns for the "victims of fascism and war"; the contrasts of quiet beauty and fierce intensity in No. 10; and the bold structure of No. 15, Shostakovich's last quartet, in which he looks at death, steadily and without blinking. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews:

Hum a little Shostakovich.......2007-02-19

I enjoyed these performances and would have purchased this album, but there is a persistent hum on some of these CDs and, once noticed, it became impossible for me not to notice it.

Not just a bargain--a must-have.......2007-02-05

There are perhaps several complete Shostakovich cycles one would like to own for these amazing pieces, and this is one of them. Not every single quartet is perfect, but that is to be expected. What these players excel in is an emotional depth that is perhaps left behind in the sheer brilliance of the Emerson SQ's playing.

Their tempi are excellent: fast when necessary, and painfully slow where Shostakovich asks for it. Perhaps my favorite point of their playing is the articulation, which is broader than most recordings I hear. Typically, they only play short when asked to in the score, and I think this sounds better than, for instance, if the opening of the Fifth Quartet, a work of enormous gravity and passion, is taken lightly.

Get this one. Highly recommended.

lusterless.......2006-11-05

The only qualm I have with this set is that the String Quartet No. 9 is a lusterless endeavor when compared to other renditions. The intensity and suffering just isnt there.

Rating this bargain set against the Emersons at full price.......2006-03-09

For many buyers the choice for a complete cycle of the Shostakovich quartets will come down to three: the Borodin, Emerson, and Fitzwilliam quartets. I own the latter two and can offer a comparison.

Fitzwilliam: This set, made between 1975-77 in a church in Surrey, has the advantage of price. Although the 15 quartets are spread out over 6 CDs as compared to 5 for the Emersons, Decca offers this cycle at roughly half the cost of the DG cycle (it's much cheaper than that, even, on the used market). The performances eschew Russian soul, grit, and emotional extremes such as one hears from the Borodin Quartet. The Fitzwilliam Quartet sounds soulful but stops short of impassioned. As much as it is possible, they make this music friendly and easy to listen to without sacrificing all of its bite and sarcasm. They are not a virtuoso group (English critics actually praise them for this lack, as if the Emersons' technical mastery was a sign of glibness), so individual solo lines, of which there are many in these quartets, sound medium well played, not dazzling. Decca's sound as transferred to CD can be a bit shrill and congested but is certainly good enough. One large missing ingredient is tonal variation--the Fitzwilliam doesn't search out the peculiar tonalities that are implied in Shostakovich's string writing, which can be eerie, ghostly, brutal, and caustic by turns.

Emerson: Recorded in Aspen at intervals between 1994 and 1999, these are live performances from the music festival and are thus not ideal sonically. What's most lacking is solidity and body. Even so, the recorded sound is considerably more detailed than in the Fitzwilliam set, or any other of the four I listened to. When this cycle was first issued in 1999 it swept the field for good reason. The Emersons are head and shoulders above any other quartet for sheer virtuosity in this music. Not that virtuosity is required very often, but the many solo lines are rendered with exquisite technique, and the Emersons pay very close attention to changes in tonality. As a result, these performances are more varied and interesting to listen to than any competitor that I sampled (including the Fitzwilliam, Brodsky, Borodin, St. Petersburg, and Shostakovich quartets on various labels).

The drawbacks are price (it's hard to find even a used set for under $70) and the prevalent accusation, from some quarters, that the Emersons lack Russian soul--they are supposedly too cool, detached, and efficient. Yet this charge can be turned around to say that the Emersons make Shostakovich sound more modern by removing a layer of sentiment. It's really up to the listener to decide, yet I found that cool detachment is not prevalent here--not by any means--and the reviewer below who thinks that the tempos are uniformly too fast is not aware of the field; the Emersons are not extreme in their allegros, at least not very often, and when they play a movement for virtuosic speed, it's almost alwaays to good effect.

I bbught this set because I heard the Emersons play Shostakovich in concert on two occasions, and I was deeply struck by how much better these quartets sound when they are given superlative musicianship. I am not one to believe that Shostakovich was a great master of quartet writing compared to Bartok, Schoenberg, and Janacek among moderns. But he found an idiom, often spare and therefore one-dimenisonal, that is easy to absorb. The Emersons go a step further and give that spare idiom all kinds of shading and colors that often make it sound better than it is.

In sum, I did what many collectors befoe me have done. I gave away the Fitzwilliam set, which was a good stop gap for many years, and relish the Emerson set as a great achievement, especially for a non-Russian ensemble.

A triumph of creativity over censorship.......2006-01-22

It is extremely difficult for a westerner, living in today's modern democracies, to have the full grasp of the extent of censorship and control of the Stalinist regime. During most of his creative life, Shostakovich was under surveillance, and some of his works were publicly censored by the self-intitled followers of the "Socialist Realism". The tension of censorship is reflected in his body of symphonies. The uneveness and limitations of some of his symphonies are a reflection of his limitations under Stalin. His string quartets, however, are mostly free from these limitations. For one, it is extremely difficult to establish what is "socialist realism" in a string quartet. Since Shostakovich was not a follower of serialism, he could afford to translate into the string quartet medium most of his tortured inner self. These quartets are filled with humanism. They are not easy listening in the sense of Hadyn and Mozart. They are rather deep, touching pieces, like the late Beethoven, Schummann, or Bartok. These recordings by the Fitzwilliam Quartet have an immense authority at a reasonable price. Lovers of string quartet cannot afford to be without the entire Shostakovich set, and anynone buying this collection will enjoy a lifetime of rewarding listening.

Average customer rating:

Brilliant music, excellent performances
Dvorak
A little cold
Music to get your blood flowing!
The finest readings I have heard of these quartets

Dvorák: The String Quartets

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00002DEH4
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 1 In A Major, Op. 2 B. 2: Andante - Allegro
String Quartet No. 1 In A Major, Op. 2 B. 2: Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato
String Quartet No. 1 In A Major, Op. 2 B. 2: Allegro schezando - trio
Finale - Allegro animato
In A minor: Quartet Movement: Andante appassionato

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 2 In B Flat Major, B. 17: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 2 In B Flat Major, B. 17: Largo
String Quartet No. 2 In B Flat Major, B. 17: Allegro con brio
String Quartet No. 2 In B Flat Major, B. 17: Finale: Andante
2 Waltzes, Op. 54 B. 105: Moderato
2 Waltzes, Op. 54 B. 105: Allegro vivace
String Quartet In F Major, B. 120 (Fragment): Allegro vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, B. 18: Allegro con brio
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, B. 18: Andantino
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, B. 18: Allegro energico - Trio
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, B. 18: Finale: Allegretto

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, B. 19: Velmi pohyblive a razne (Assai con moto ed energico)
String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, B. 19: Andante religioso - attacca
String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, B. 19: Allegro con brio
String Quartet No. 5 In F Minor, Op. 9 B. 37: Moderato
String Quartet No. 5 In F Minor, Op. 9 B. 37: Andante con moto quasi allegretto
String Quartet No. 5 In F Minor, Op. 9 B. 37: Tempo di valse
String Quartet No. 5 In F Minor, Op. 9 B. 37: Finale - Allegro molto

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 6 In A Minor, Op. 12 B. 40: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 6 In A Minor, Op. 12 B. 40: Poco allegro
String Quartet No. 6 In A Minor, Op. 12 B. 40: Poco adagio
String Quartet No. 6 In A Minor, Op. 12 B. 40: Finale - allegro molto
String Quartet No. 7 In A Minor, OP. 16 B. 45: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 7 In A Minor, OP. 16 B. 45: Andante cantabile
String Quartet No. 7 In A Minor, OP. 16 B. 45: Allegro scherzando - Trio
String Quartet No. 7 In A Minor, OP. 16 B. 45: Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 8 In E Major, Op. 80 B. 57: Allegro
String Quartet No. 8 In E Major, Op. 80 B. 57: Andante con moto
String Quartet No. 8 In E Major, Op. 80 B. 57: Allegro scherzando
String Quartet No. 8 In E Major, Op. 80 B. 57: Finale - Allegro con brio
String Quartet No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 34 B.75: Allegro
String Quartet No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 34 B.75: Alla polka: Allgretto scherzando - Trio: quasi l'istesso temo
String Quartet No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 34 B.75: Adagio
String Quartet No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 34 B.75: Finale - Poco allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 B. 92: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 B. 92: Dumka (Elegia): Andante con moto - Vivace
String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 B. 92: Romanza: Andante con moto
String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 B. 92: Finale - Allegro assai
String Quartet No. 11 In C Major, Op. 61 B. 121: Allegro
String Quartet No. 11 In C Major, Op. 61 B. 121: Poco adagio e molto cantabile
String Quartet No. 11 In C Major, Op. 61 B. 121: Scherzo: Allegro vivo - Trio: L'istess tempo
String Quartet No. 11 In C Major, Op. 61 B. 121: Finale - Vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 B. 179: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 B. 179: Lento
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 B. 179: Molto vivace
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 B. 179: Finale: Vivace ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op.106 B. 192: Allegro moderato
String Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op.106 B. 192: Adagio ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op.106 B. 192: Molto vivace
String Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op.106 B. 192: Finale: Andante sostenuto - Allegro con fuoco

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major, Op. 105 No. 193: Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro appassionato
String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major, Op. 105 No. 193: Molto vivance
String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major, Op. 105 No. 193: Lento e molto cantabile
String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major, Op. 105 No. 193: Allegro non tanto
Cypresses, B. 152: Moderato
Cypresses, B. 152: Allegro ma non troppo
Cypresses, B. 152: Andante con moto
Cypresses, B. 152: Poco Adagio
Cypresses, B. 152: Andante
Cypresses, B. 152: Andante moderato
Cypresses, B. 152: Andante con moto
Cypresses, B. 152: Lento
Cypresses, B. 152: Moderato
Cypresses, B. 152: Andante maestoso
Cypresses, B. 152: Allegro scherzando
Cypresses, B. 152: Allegro animato

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant music, excellent performances.......2006-10-11

I must admit up front that when it comes to classic music, I prefer chamber music (any era or style). If you like chamber music, buy this set. If you are are curious about chamber music and Dvorak's work, buy a budget single CD of any Dvorak string quartets. When you've fallen in love with Dvorak's work --- and you will --- then buy this set.

These are simply some of the finest string quartets ever written. Lyrical and inventive, they will make you understand why Brahms and Dvorak were such good friends and admired each other's work so much. There are other recordings out there of various quartets, particularly the late ones. But the value in having a complete set is that you get to hear the composer's development, and you get to hear infrequently played yet brilliant works. A good example is the Quartet No. 5, which is intense --- as full of bite as, say, "Death and the Maiden," yet as richly melodic as anything Dvorak ever wrote. The recording is clean and warm, the playing precise yet soulful. The set is now selling for about $12 more than I paid for it, but it's still a bargain. You will never regret having bought it.

Dvorak.......2006-05-16

One of the best composers for chamber music together with Joseph Haydyn, I think. Thank you.

A little cold.......2006-01-16

Compaired to the Vlach on Naxos, this exelent recording left me a little cold. Where is all the emotion that these quartet's should have.

Music to get your blood flowing!.......2005-11-24

Wow! Great quartets played with real gusto and dynamism by the Prager String Quartet. The sound is incredibly crisp and clear. The performances are impeccable. You won't be disappointed!

The finest readings I have heard of these quartets.......2005-11-04

I have heard multiple recordings of these quartets, including the Chiligirian quartet, and selections by the Amadeus quartet, Hagen quartet, Melos quartet, Vlach quartet and Cleveland quartet. However, these renditions are (in my opinion) the most adherent to the Czech folk roots. I'm sure it helps that the ensemble is in fact Czech-for that reason they seem to have an edge over some of the other notable groups which have made recordings. Everyone has obviously heard the American quartet, but just as fine are quartets 10,11, 13 and 14 (as well as 7-9). I am less entranced by the early works, but they are not without their merit as well.
Overall, the sound seems a bit better in this re-release than in the previous version available on CD. Not much better, but better. And at this price, it is an absolute steal. Highly recommended for lovers of chamber music, or Dvorak in general.

Average customer rating:

The "Clinker" of the bunch

Brahms: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Dvorák: The Masterworks [Box Set]
Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set]
Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set)
Beethoven: The Masterworks (Box Set)
Schubert: The Masterworks [Box Set]

ASIN: B00062FLIS
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

The "Clinker" of the bunch.......2006-12-19

Having collected the entire "The Masterworks" series (including the Bach and Mozart Complete Works) this set is the 'clinker' of the bunch. First off... 6 CD's of Lieder 'historic' (pre-historic) recordings. No Overtures, No Orchestral Seranades, No Haydn Variations?? The performances of the Symphonies and the Concertos are shakey and not very well recorded. Brilliant Classics, who has done such a wonderful job with the Hadyn Complete Symphonies (licensed from Nimbus), the Mozart and Bach Complete sets, has stumbled a bit with this release.

Beethoven: String Quartets - Borodin String Quartet (4 CDs)

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: String Quartets - Borodin String Quartet (4 CDs)

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Dvorák: Piano Quintets, Opp. 5 & 81
Tchaikovsky: String Quartets Nos. 1 - 3/Souvenir De Florence
Twelfth Night: or, What You Will (Signet Classics)

ASIN: B000090WCC
Release Date: 2003-02-10

Tracks:

I Allegro
II Allegretto Vivace E Sempre Scherzando
III Adagio Molto E Mesto
IV Theme Russe: Allegro
I Introduzione: Andante Con Moto - Allegro Vivace
II Andante Con Moto - Allegro Vivace
III Menuetto: Grazioso
IV Allegro Molto

Tracks:

I Allegro Con Brio
II Allegretto Ma Non Troppo
III Allegro Assai Ma Serioso - Piu Allegro
IV Larghetto Espressivo - Allegro Agitato - Allegro
I Assai Sostenuto - Allegro
II Allegro Ma Non Tanto
III Molto Adagio, Andante ('Heiliger Dankgesang Eines Genesenen An Die Gottheit, In Der Lydischen Tonart'
IV Alla Marcia, Assai Vivace - Piu Allegro
V Allegro Appassionato

Tracks:

I Allegro Ma Non Tanto
II Scherzo: Andante Scherzoso Quasi Allegretto
III Menuetto: Allegretto
IV Allegro - Prestissimo
I Allegro
II Menuetto
III Andante Cantabile
IV Allegro

Tracks:

I Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Allegro
II Presto
III Andante Con Moto, Ma Non Troppo
IV Alla Danza Tedesca (Allegro Assai)
V Cavatina (Adagio Molto Espressivo)
Grosse Fuge In B Flat Major, Op. 133
VI Finale (Allegro)

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: Complete String Quartets
Juilliard String Quartet
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

The Beethoven Quartet Companion
Mahler: The Symphonies
Complete String Quartets
Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 18
Schubert: The String Quartets

ASIN: B00006OA6A
Release Date: 2002-11-11

Tracks:

1-4 String Quartet No.1 In F Major, Op. 18 No.1
5-8 String Quartet No.2 In G Major, Op.18 No.2
9-12 String Quartet No.3 In D Major, Op.18 No.3
1-4 String Quartet No.4 In D Minor, Op. 18 No.3
5-8 String Quartet No.5 In A Major, Op.18 No.5
9-12 String Quartet No.6 In B-Flat Major, Op.18 No.6
1-4 String Quartet No.7 In F Major, Op.59 No.1
1-4 String Quartet No.8 In E Minor, Op.59 No.2
5-8 String Quartet No.9 In C Major, Op.59 No.3
1-4 String Quartet No.10 In E-Flat Major, Op. 74 "Harp"
5-8 String Quartet No.11 In F Minor Op.95
1-4 String Quartet No.12 In E-Flat Major, Op.127
5-11 String Quartet No.13 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131
1-7 String Quartet No.14 In B-Flat Major, Op. 130
1-5 String Quartet No.15 In A Minor, Op.132
6-9 String Quartet No.16 In F Major, Op. 135

Beethoven: "Razumovsky" Quartets, Op. 59 [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

The renewed Tokyp Qt. is better than ever
Silken sound, polished playing

Beethoven: "Razumovsky" Quartets, Op. 59 [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Mozart: String Quartets K. 575, K. 589, K. 590
Brahms: Complete String Quartets
Symphonies Nos 8 & 9 (RMST)
Mozart: Piano & Violin Sonatas [Hybrid SACD]
Beethoven: Complete Sonatas & Variations [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B000BRFACA
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Tracks:

Allegro
Allegretto Vivace E Sempre Scherzando
Adagio Molto E Mesto
Theme Russe: Allegro
Allegro
Molto Adagio
Allegretto
Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Introduzione: Andante Con Moto - Allegro Vivace
Andante Con Moto Quasi Allegretto
Menuetto: Grazioso
Finale: Allegro Molto

Customer Reviews:

The renewed Tokyp Qt. is better than ever.......2007-01-15

I hipe these new recordings of the three Rasumovsky Quartets find an enthusiastic audience. After the retirement of first violinist Peter Oundjian from an injury, the Tokyo Qt. went through a transition, but they have emerged sounding better than ever, particularly in these well recorded CDs. Always known for tonal beauty and pinpoint ensemble, the Tokyp has qcquired more maturity and depth while retaining a romantic stance that's a little old-fashioned. Their expressivity stands in marked contrast to the steel polish of the Emersons and the too-fierce attack of the Takacs (now going thourhg a transition with a new violist).

I was going to write a comparative article on the Rasumovsky sets from seven different groups, but in the end I didn't have enough praise for the Guarneri, Takacs, Juilliard, or Emerson performances. For real depth and tonal beauty combined, I favor the Alban Berg over all comers. For Middle European solidity at a bargain price, the Kodaly Qt. on Naxis is quite good. For Russian musicianship at its finest, the Borodins are wonderful despite absurdly over-resonant recordings that make them sound biger than life. the new Tokyp set is right up there, however. For me, these are the best new Rasumovskys in decades.

Silken sound, polished playing.......2006-09-08

The Tokyo quartet, now restaffed since its original cycle of the Beethoven quartets, gives a silky, elegant performance of the Razoumovsky quartets on this 2-CD set. I really wallow in the sound, especially in the opening of Op. 59, no. 1, where the cello solo gratifyingly reaches into the deep dark colors of the cello and resonates. Bravo! No one can touch this except the Quartetto Italiano. Otherwise, there is a little more restraint, emotionally, than I like with these very romantic pieces. The Razoumovsky quartets are unrivalled for sheer beauty and richness of conception and sound. This recording is more memorable for its clean, elegant qualities than for any new realization of the pieces or distinctive emotional insight. Still, if you relish the sound of super audio CDs (and these are hybrid discs you can play on any CD player - I tried it), you will find these polished renditions are well worth the extremely reasonable price.

Franz Joseph Haydn: Complete String Quartets (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

Many Hours of Magnificent Listening Pleasure

Franz Joseph Haydn: Complete String Quartets (Box Set)
Kodly Quartet
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Haydn: Complete Piano Trios
Mozart: String Quartets (Complete Mozart Edition, Vol. 12)
Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet
Haydn: The "Sturm und Drang" Symphonies
Schubert: The String Quartets

ASIN: B00004SSJF
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Tracks:

String Quartet In G Major, Op. 76, No. 1, Hob. III: 75: Allegro con spirito
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 76, No. 1, Hob. III: 75: Adagio sostenuto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 76, No. 1, Hob. III: 75: Menuetto: Presto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 76, No. 1, Hob. III: 75: Finale: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 76, No. 2, Hob. III: 76: Allegro
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 76, No. 2, Hob. III: 76: Andante o piu tosto allegretto
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 76, No. 2, Hob. III: 76: Menuetto: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In D Minor, Op. 76, No. 2, Hob. III: 76: Vivace assai
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 76, No. 3, Hob. III: 77: Allegro
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 76, No. 3, Hob. III: 77: Poco adagio, cantabile
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 76, No. 3, Hob. III: 77: Menuetto: Allegro
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 76, No. 3, Hob. III: 77: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4, Hob. III: 78: Allegro con spirito
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4, Hob. III: 78: Adagio
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4, Hob. III: 78: Menuetto: Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4, Hob. III: 78: Finale: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 76, No. 5, Hob. III: 79: Allegretto - Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 76, No. 5, Hob. III: 79: Largo cantabile e mesto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 76, No. 5, Hob. III: 79: Menuetto: Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 76, No. 5, Hob. III: 79: Finale: Presto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 76, No. 6, Hob. III: 80: Allegretto - Allegro
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 76, No. 6, Hob. III: 80: Fantasia: Adagio
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 76, No. 6, Hob. III: 80: Menuetto: Presto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 76, No. 6, Hob. III: 80: Finale: Allegro spirituoso

Tracks:

The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ - Op. 51, Hob. III: 50-56: L'Introduzione: Maestoso ed adagio
The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ - Op. 51, Hob. III: 50-56: Sonata I: Pater, dimitte illis, non enim sciunt, quid faciunt (Largo)
The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ - Op. 51, Hob. III: 50-56: Sonata II: Amen dico tibi: hodie mecum eris in paradiso (Grave e cantabile)
The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ - Op. 51, Hob. III: 50-56: Sonata III: Mullier, ecce fillus tuus, et tu, ecce mater tua! (Grave)
The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ - Op. 51, Hob. III: 50-56: Sonata IV: Eli, Eli, lama asabthani? (Largo)
The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ - Op. 51, Hob. III: 50-56: Sonata V: Sitio (Adagio)
The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ - Op. 51, Hob. III: 50-56: Sonata VI: Consummatum est! (Lento)
The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ - Op. 51, Hob. III: 50-56: Sonata VII: Peter! in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum - (Largo)
The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ - Op. 51, Hob. III: 50-56: Il terrmoto (Presto e con tutta la forza)
String Quartet No. 68 In D Minor, Op. 103 Hob. III: 83: Andante graziso
String Quartet No. 68 In D Minor, Op. 103 Hob. III: 83: Menuetto ma non troppo presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 71, No. 1, Hob. III: 69: Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 71, No. 1, Hob. III: 69: Adagio
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 71, No. 1, Hob. III: 69: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 71, No. 1, Hob. III: 69: (Finale): Vivace
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 71, No. 2, Hob. III: 70: Adagio-Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 71, No. 2, Hob. III: 70: Adagio (cantobile)
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 71, No. 2, Hob. III: 70: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 71, No. 2, Hob. III: 70: Finale: Allegretto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 71, No. 3, Hob. III: 71: Vivace
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 71, No. 3, Hob. III: 71: Andante con moto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 71, No. 3, Hob. III: 71: Menuetto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 71, No. 3, Hob. III: 71: Finale: Vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Major, Op. 54, No. 2, Hob. III: 57: Vivace
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 54, No. 2, Hob. III: 57: Adagio
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 54, No. 2, Hob. III: 57: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 54, No. 2, Hob. III: 57: Finale: Adagio-Presto-Adagio
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 54, No. 2, Hob. III: 58: Allegro con brio
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 54, No. 2, Hob. III: 58: Allegretto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 54, No. 2, Hob. III: 58: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 54, No. 2, Hob. III: 58: Finale: Presto
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 54, No. 3, Hob. III: 59: Allegro
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 54, No. 3, Hob. III: 59: Largo cantobile
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 54, No. 3, Hob. III: 59: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In E Major, Op. 54, No. 3, Hob. III: 59: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Major, Op. 74, No. 1, Hob. III: 72: Allegro (moderato)
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 74, No. 1, Hob. III: 72: Andantino (grazioso)
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 74, No. 1, Hob. III: 72: Menuetto: Allegro
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 74, No. 1, Hob. III: 72: Finale: Vivace
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 74, No. 2, Hob. III: 73: Allegro spiritoso
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 74, No. 2, Hob. III: 73: Andadnte grazioso
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 74, No. 2, Hob. III: 73: Menuetto
String Quartet In F Major, Op. 74, No. 2, Hob. III: 73: Finale: Presto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 74, No. 3, Hob. III: 74: Allegro
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 74, No. 3, Hob. III: 74: Largo assai
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 74, No. 3, Hob. III: 74: Menuetto: (Allegretto)
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 74, No. 3, Hob. III: 74: Finbale: Allegro con brio

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 45 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 1, Hob. III: 60: Allegro
String Quartet No. 45 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 1, Hob. III: 60: Adagio cantabile
String Quartet No. 45 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 1, Hob. III: 60: Menuetto
String Quartet No. 45 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 1, Hob. III: 60: Finale: Vivace
String Quartet No. 46 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 2, Hob. III: 61 'The Razor': Andante o piu tosto allegretto
String Quartet No. 46 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 2, Hob. III: 61 'The Razor': Allegro
String Quartet No. 46 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 2, Hob. III: 61 'The Razor': Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet No. 46 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 2, Hob. III: 61 'The Razor': Finale: Presto
String Quartet No. 47 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 3, Hob. III: 62: Vivace assai
String Quartet No. 47 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 3, Hob. III: 62: Adagio ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 47 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 3, Hob. III: 62: Menuetto
String Quartet No. 47 In A Major, Op. 55, No. 3, Hob. III: 62: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In B Flat Major Op. 1, No. 1: Presto
String Quartet In B Flat Major Op. 1, No. 1: Minuet
String Quartet In B Flat Major Op. 1, No. 1: Adagio
String Quartet In B Flat Major Op. 1, No. 1: Minuet
String Quartet In B Flat Major Op. 1, No. 1: Finale: Presto
String Quartet In E Flat Major Op. 1, No. 2: Allegro molto
String Quartet In E Flat Major Op. 1, No. 2: Minuet
String Quartet In E Flat Major Op. 1, No. 2: Adagio
String Quartet In E Flat Major Op. 1, No. 2: Minuet
String Quartet In E Flat Major Op. 1, No. 2: Finale: Presto
String Quartet In D Flat Major Op. 1, No. 3: Adagio
String Quartet In D Flat Major Op. 1, No. 3: Minuet
String Quartet In D Flat Major Op. 1, No. 3: Scherzo: Presto
String Quartet In D Flat Major Op. 1, No. 3: Menuet
String Quartet In D Flat Major Op. 1, No. 3: Finale: Presto
String Quartet In G Flat Major Op. 1, No. 4: Presto
String Quartet In G Flat Major Op. 1, No. 4: Minuet
String Quartet In G Flat Major Op. 1, No. 4: Adagio ma non tanto
String Quartet In G Flat Major Op. 1, No. 4: Minuet
String Quartet In G Flat Major Op. 1, No. 4: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In E Flat Major Op. 1, No. 0: Presto
String Quartet In E Flat Major Op. 1, No. 0: Minuet
String Quartet In E Flat Major Op. 1, No. 0: Adagio
String Quartet In E Flat Major Op. 1, No. 0: Minuet
String Quartet In E Flat Major Op. 1, No. 0: Finale: Presto
String Quartet In C Major Op. 2, No. 6: Presto assai
String Quartet In C Major Op. 2, No. 6: Minuet
String Quartet In C Major Op. 2, No. 6: Adagio
String Quartet In C Major Op. 2, No. 6: Minuet
String Quartet In C Major Op. 2, No. 6: Finale: Allegro
String Quartet In D Major Op. 2, No. 1: Allegro
String Quartet In D Major Op. 2, No. 1: Minuet
String Quartet In D Major Op. 2, No. 1: Adagio
String Quartet In D Major Op. 2, No. 1: Minuet
String Quartet In D Major Op. 2, No. 1: Finale: Allegro molto
String Quartet In G Major Op. 2, No. 2: Allegro molto
String Quartet In G Major Op. 2, No. 2: Minuet
String Quartet In G Major Op. 2, No. 2: Adagio
String Quartet In G Major Op. 2, No. 2: Minuetto
String Quartet In G Major Op. 2, No. 2: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Major, Op. 64, No. 1, Hob. III: 65: Allegro moderato
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 64, No. 1, Hob. III: 65: Menuetto: Allegretto ma non troppo
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 64, No. 1, Hob. III: 65: Allegretto scherzando
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 64, No. 1, Hob. III: 65: Finale: Presto
String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 64, No. 2, Hob. III: 68: Allegro spiritoso
String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 64, No. 2, Hob. III: 68: Adagio ma non troppo
String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 64, No. 2, Hob. III: 68: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In B Minor, Op. 64, No. 2, Hob. III: 68: Finale: Presto
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 3, Hob. III: 67: Vivace assai
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 3, Hob. III: 67: Adagio
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 3, Hob. III: 67: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 3, Hob. III: 67: Finale: Allegro con spirito

Tracks:

String Quartet In G Major, Op. 64, No. 4, Hob. III: 66: Allegro con brio
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 64, No. 4, Hob. III: 66: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 64, No. 4, Hob. III: 66: Adagio - Cantabile e sostenuto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 64, No. 4, Hob. III: 66: Finale: Presto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 64, No. 5, Hob. III: 63: Allegro moderato
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 64, No. 5, Hob. III: 63: Adagio - Cantabile
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 64, No. 5, Hob. III: 63: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 64, No. 5, Hob. III: 63: Finale: Vivace
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 6, Hob. III: 64: Allegro
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 6, Hob. III: 64: Andante
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 6, Hob. III: 64: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 6, Hob. III: 64: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Quartet No. 28 In E Flat Major, Op. 20, No. 1: Allegro moderato
Quartet No. 28 In E Flat Major, Op. 20, No. 1: Minuet: Un poco allegretto
Quartet No. 28 In E Flat Major, Op. 20, No. 1: Affetuoso e sostenuto
Quartet No. 28 In E Flat Major, Op. 20, No. 1: Finale: Presto
Quartet No. 25 In C Major, Op. 20, No. 2: Moderato
Quartet No. 25 In C Major, Op. 20, No. 2: Capriccio: Adagio
Quartet No. 25 In C Major, Op. 20, No. 2: Minuet: Allegretto
Quartet No. 25 In C Major, Op. 20, No. 2: Fuga a quattro soggetti
Quartet No. 26 In G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3: Allegro con spirito
Quartet No. 26 In G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3: Minuet: Allegretto
Quartet No. 26 In G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3: Poco adagio
Quartet No. 26 In G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3: Finale: Allegro di molto

Tracks:

Quartet No. 27 In D Major, Op. 20, No. 4: Allegro di molto
Quartet No. 27 In D Major, Op. 20, No. 4: Un poco adagio e affettuoso
Quartet No. 27 In D Major, Op. 20, No. 4: Menuet alla Zingarese: Allegretto
Quartet No. 27 In D Major, Op. 20, No. 4: Presto e scherzando
Quartet No. 23 In F Minor, Op. 20, No. 5: Moderato
Quartet No. 23 In F Minor, Op. 20, No. 5: Menuet
Quartet No. 23 In F Minor, Op. 20, No. 5: Adagio
Quartet No. 23 In F Minor, Op. 20, No. 5: Finale: Fuga a due soggetti
Quartet No. 24 In A Major, Op. 20, No. 6: Allegro di molto e scherzando
Quartet No. 24 In A Major, Op. 20, No. 6: Adagio
Quartet No. 24 In A Major, Op. 20, No. 6: Menuet
Quartet No. 24 In A Major, Op. 20, No. 6: Fuga con tre soggetti

Tracks:

Quartet No. 35 In D Minor, Op. 42: Andante ed Innocentemente
Quartet No. 35 In D Minor, Op. 42: Menuetto: Allegretto
Quartet No. 35 In D Minor, Op. 42: Adagio e cantabile
Quartet No. 35 In D Minor, Op. 42: Finale: Presto
Quartet No. 9 In F Major, Op. 2, No. 4: Presto
Quartet No. 9 In F Major, Op. 2, No. 4: Menuet
Quartet No. 9 In F Major, Op. 2, No. 4: Adagio
Quartet No. 9 In F Major, Op. 2, No. 4: Menuet: Allegretto
Quartet No. 9 In F Major, Op. 2, No. 4: Finale: Allegro
Quartet No. 10 In B Flat Major, Op. 2, No. 6: Adagio With Variations
Quartet No. 10 In B Flat Major, Op. 2, No. 6: Menuet
Quartet No. 10 In B Flat Major, Op. 2, No. 6: Scherzo: Presto
Quartet No. 10 In B Flat Major, Op. 2, No. 6: Menuet
Quartet No. 10 In B Flat Major, Op. 2, No. 6: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Quartet No. 11 In D Minor, Op. 9, No. 4: Moderato
Quartet No. 11 In D Minor, Op. 9, No. 4: Menuet
Quartet No. 11 In D Minor, Op. 9, No. 4: Adagio - Cantabile
Quartet No. 11 In D Minor, Op. 9, No. 4: Finale: Presto
Quartet No. 12 In C Major, Op. 9, No. 1: Moderato
Quartet No. 12 In C Major, Op. 9, No. 1: Menuet: Un poco allegretto
Quartet No. 12 In C Major, Op. 9, No. 1: Adagio
Quartet No. 12 In C Major, Op. 9, No. 1: Finale: Presto
Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op. 9, No. 3: Moderato
Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op. 9, No. 3: Menuet: Allegretto
Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op. 9, No. 3: Largo
Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op. 9, No. 3: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Quartet No. 14 In E Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2: Moderato
Quartet No. 14 In E Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2: Menuet
Quartet No. 14 In E Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2: Adagio
Quartet No. 14 In E Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2: Finale: Allegro di molto
Quartet No. 15 In B Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 5: Poco adagio
Quartet No. 15 In B Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 5: Menuet: Allegretto
Quartet No. 15 In B Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 5: Largo: Cantabile
Quartet No. 15 In B Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 5: Finale: Presto
Quartet No. 16 In A Major, Op. 9, No. 6: Presto
Quartet No. 16 In A Major, Op. 9, No. 6: Menuet
Quartet No. 16 In A Major, Op. 9, No. 6: Adagio
Quartet No. 16 In A Major, Op. 9, No. 6: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Quartet No. 29 In G Major, Op. 33, No. 5 'How Do You Do?': Vivace assai
Quartet No. 29 In G Major, Op. 33, No. 5 'How Do You Do?': Largo e cantabile
Quartet No. 29 In G Major, Op. 33, No. 5 'How Do You Do?': Scherzo
Quartet No. 29 In G Major, Op. 33, No. 5 'How Do You Do?': Finale
Quartet No. 30 In E Flat Major, Op. 33, No. 2 'The Joke': Allegro moderato
Quartet No. 30 In E Flat Major, Op. 33, No. 2 'The Joke': Scherzo
Quartet No. 30 In E Flat Major, Op. 33, No. 2 'The Joke': Largo e sostenuto
Quartet No. 30 In E Flat Major, Op. 33, No. 2 'The Joke': Finale
Quartet No. 31 In B Minor, Op. 33, No. 1: Allegro moderato
Quartet No. 31 In B Minor, Op. 33, No. 1: Scherzo
Quartet No. 31 In B Minor, Op. 33, No. 1: Andante
Quartet No. 31 In B Minor, Op. 33, No. 1: Finale

Tracks:

Quartet No. 32 In C Major, Op. 33, No. 3 'The Bird': Allegro moderato
Quartet No. 32 In C Major, Op. 33, No. 3 'The Bird': Scherzo: Allegretto
Quartet No. 32 In C Major, Op. 33, No. 3 'The Bird': Adagio ma non troppo
Quartet No. 32 In C Major, Op. 33, No. 3 'The Bird': Finale: Rondo - Presto
Quartet No. 33 In D Major, Op. 33, No. 6: Vivace assai
Quartet No. 33 In D Major, Op. 33, No. 6: Andante
Quartet No. 33 In D Major, Op. 33, No. 6: Scherzo: Allegretto
Quartet No. 33 In D Major, Op. 33, No. 6: Finale: Rondo - Presto
Quartet No. 34 In B Flat Major, Op. 33, No. 4: Allegro moderato
Quartet No. 34 In B Flat Major, Op. 33, No. 4: Scherzo: Allegretto
Quartet No. 34 In B Flat Major, Op. 33, No. 4: Largo
Quartet No. 34 In B Flat Major, Op. 33, No. 4: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet Op. 17 No. 2 In F Major: Moderato
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 2 In F Major: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 2 In F Major: Adagio
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 2 In F Major: Finale: Allegro di molto
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 1 In E Major: Moderato
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 1 In E Major: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 1 In E Major: Adagio
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 1 In E Major: Finale: Presto
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 4 In C Minor: Moderato
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 4 In C Minor: Menuetto
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 4 In C Minor: Adagio cantabile
String Quartet Op. 17 No. 4 In C Minor: Finale: Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet In D Major, Op. 17, No. 6: Presto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 17, No. 6: Menuetto
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 17, No. 6: Largo
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 17, No. 6: Presto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3: Andate grazioso
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3: Adagio
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3: Allegro molto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 17, No. 5: Moderato
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 17, No. 5: Menuetto
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 17, No. 5: Adagio
String Quartet In G Major, Op. 17, No. 5: Presto

Tracks:

Quartet No. 66 In G Major, Op. 77, No. 1: Allegro moderato
Quartet No. 66 In G Major, Op. 77, No. 1: Adagio
Quartet No. 66 In G Major, Op. 77, No. 1: Menuetto: Presto
Quartet No. 66 In G Major, Op. 77, No. 1: Finale: Presto
Quartet No. 67 In F Major, Op. 77, No. 2: Allegro moderato
Quartet No. 67 In F Major, Op. 77, No. 2: Menuet: Presto
Quartet No. 67 In F Major, Op. 77, No. 2: Andante
Quartet No. 67 In F Major, Op. 77, No. 2: Finale: Vivace assai

Tracks:

String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 1: Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 1: Adagio non lento
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 1: Menuetto: Poco allegretto
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 1: Finale: Vivace
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 50, No. 2: Vivace
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 50, No. 2: Adagio: Cantabile
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 50, No. 2: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In C Major, Op. 50, No. 2: Finale: Vivace assai
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 3: Allegro con brio
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 3: Andante piu tosto Allegretto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 3: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 3: Finale: Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet Op. 50 No. 4 In F Sharp Minor: Allegro spirituoso
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 4 In F Sharp Minor: Andante
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 4 In F Sharp Minor: Menuetto: Poco allegretto
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 4 In F Sharp Minor: Finale: Fuga: Allegro moderato
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 5 In F Major: Allegro moderato
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 5 In F Major: Poco adagio
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 5 In F Major: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 5 In F Major: Finale: Vivace
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 6 In D Major: Allegro
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 6 In D Major: Poco adagio
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 6 In D Major: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet Op. 50 No. 6 In D Major: Finale: Allegro con spirito

Customer Reviews:

Many Hours of Magnificent Listening Pleasure.......2007-02-20

When these quartets were recorded, in the 1990's and early 2000's, the Kodaly Quartet ("KQ") had been playing together for more than a quarter century. It shows. What is evident on these recordings is the perfect cohesion of these highly talented musicians; they clearly have an intimate knowledge of the score of each quartet and thoroughly enjoy playing together. The KQ's performance is fresh, truly conveys their love for this music, and fully brings to life the range of emotions contained in this musical microcosm - playfulness, elegance, sunny joy, and gentle reverie - with every movement of these quartets having a quality of refinement and graciousness that allows the listener to savor every note.

The allegro movements on these CDs have a wonderful rhythmic vitality.
While listening to them, one can imagine elegantly dressed men and women in the 18th century, with the women in long, flowing silk dresses, moving across the dance floor to the sounds of this wonderful music. Although this chamber music was originally composed for small private gatherings, the fast movements have a lively rhythm that evokes the image of dancing couples.

The slow movements are played with a beautiful tenderness that invites the listener to float upwards with closed eyes into a serene musical heaven, floating in the clouds like an albatross with its wings outspread, being lifted by air currents as it slowly glides through an azure sky on a warm summer day.

These digital recordings have an excellent crystal clear sound quality, capturing the KQ's precision and their sensitivity to every nuance of every note. The sound engineering is truly first-rate, giving a feeling of immediacy and physical presence to the instruments. It is only one step away from having the musicians actually performing in front of you, in your own living room.

I am absolutely delighted with this series of the complete Haydn string quartets by the KQ. As it turns out, every CD in the series has been a delight, including the ones with "spurious arrangements" and quartets that may very well not have been composed by Haydn at all, but by Romanus Hoffstetter (1742 - 1815).

Even the early string quartets are more than mere historical footnotes. They are also beautiful music, irrespective of who composed them, Haydn or Hoffstetter. They are delightful and very worthy compositions in their own right. As stated by Allan Badley in the booklet notes to one of the CD's of the earliest quartets: "There is much to admire in the Op. 3 Quartets, whoever the composer may have been. They are elegant, neatly composed works with lively outer movements, gentle, graceful slow movements, and the kind of lilting, intoxicating minuets that are an integral part of Austrian music of the period." The fact that these string quartets are less musically complex than Haydn's later masterpieces, such as the Opus 71, "Apponyi" quartets, does not detract from their beauty.

I would gladly have paid twice as much for this set of CDs and still felt it was an excellent value. The CD booklet notes are well-written, with historical information, musical analysis, and information on the Kodaly Quartet. Very highly recommended.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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