Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 20 No's. 2, 5 & 6

On this CD:

1. String Quartet No. 25 in C major, Op. 20/2, H. 3/32
Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performed by Lindsay String Quartet

2. String Quartet No. 23 in F minor, Op. 20/5, H. 3/35
Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performed by Lindsay String Quartet

3. String Quartet No. 24 in A major, Op. 20/6, H. 3/36
Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performed by Lindsay String Quartet

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:

Haydn: String Quartets, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001K4H
Release Date: 1996-07-09

Tracks:

Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 20 No. 1: I. Allegro moderato
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 20 No. 1: II. Menuetto: Allegretto
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 20 No. 1: III. Affetuoso e sostenuto
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 20 No. 1: IV. Finale: Presto
Quartet In G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3: I. Allegro con spirito
Quartet In G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3: II. Menuetto: Allegretto
Quartet In G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3: III. Poco adagio
Quartet In G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3: IV. Finale: Allegro molto
Quartet In A Major, Op. 20 No.6: I. Allegro con spirito
Quartet In A Major, Op. 20 No.6: II. Adagio cantabile
Quartet In A Major, Op. 20 No.6: III. Menuetto: Allegro Allegretto
Quartet In A Major, Op. 20 No.6: IV. Fuga: Allegro
Quartet In C Major, Op.20 No.2: I. Moderato
Quartet In C Major, Op.20 No.2: II. Adagio
Quartet In C Major, Op.20 No.2: III. Menuetto: Allegretto
Quartet In C Major, Op.20 No.2: IV. Fuga IV soggetti

Tracks:

Quartet In D Major, Op.20 No.4: I. Allegro di molto
Quartet In D Major, Op.20 No.4: II. Un poco adagio affetuoso
Quartet In D Major, Op.20 No.4: III. Menuetto: Allegretto alla zingarese
Quartet In D Major, Op.20 No.4: IV. Presto scherzando
Quartet In F Major, Op.20, No.5: I. Allegro moderato
Quartet In F Major, Op.20, No.5: II. Menuetto
Quartet In F Major, Op.20, No.5: III. Adagio
Quartet In F Major, Op.20, No.5: IV. Finale: Fuga a due sogetti
Quartet In F-Flat Major, Op.1, No.1: I. Presto
Quartet In F-Flat Major, Op.1, No.1: II. Menuetto
Quartet In F-Flat Major, Op.1, No.1: III. Adagio
Quartet In F-Flat Major, Op.1, No.1: IV. Menuetto
Quartet In F-Flat Major, Op.1, No.1: V. Presto
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.1, No.2: I. Allegro molto
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.1, No.2: II. Menuetto
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.1, No.2: III. Adagio
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.1, No.2: IV. Menuetto
Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op.1, No.2: V. Presto

Franz Joseph Haydn: "Sun Quartets" Op. 20

Average customer rating:

Franz Joseph Haydn: "Sun Quartets" Op. 20
Franz Joseph Haydn , and Tátrai Quartet
Manufacturer: Hungaroton
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000303T
Release Date: 1993-01-20

Haydn: String Quartets Op 20 /Quatuor Mosaïques

Average customer rating:

Each movement is an event!
One of the finest recordings in chamber music
Haydn with sense and sensibility
Excellent performance overall.

Haydn: String Quartets Op 20 /Quatuor Mosaïques
Joseph Haydn , Quatuor Mosaiques , Erich Höbarth , and Andrea Bischof
Manufacturer: Astree
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Haydn: String Quartets Op 33 /Quatuor Mosaiques
Haydn: String Quartets Op. 76
Haydn: String Quartets Op 64 Nos 2, 4, 5 /Quatuor Mosaiques
Haydn: String Quartets Op 64 Nos 1, 3, 6 /Quatuor Mosaiques
Mozart: String Quartets /Quatuor Mosaiques

ASIN: B00004TQPN
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Customer Reviews:

Each movement is an event!.......2007-02-19

In comparison with The Lindsays who play beautifully but lack in recording quality and intimacy (especially on ASV), the Emerson Quartet who are recorded really well but for me play with too much self-regard, and the Amadeus Quartet who play excellently but who's recordings are older and analogue to digital transfers, the Mosaiques are as close to perfection as one could wish. Period instruments are not all that important perhaps but the intimacy of recording them and their acoustics is and both are technically very well accomplished here and on their Op 33, 64, 76, & 77 CDs. As far as musical interpretation goes they are sensitive and revealing artists who are most sympathetic to how my relationship with this music is. I own several CDs by all the above quartets but the Mosaiques are the ones I am drawn to first every time in any mood (closely followed by the Amadeus Quartet). The others provide valuable comparisons which may broaden one's understanding of Hadyn but for depth, drama, and lucidity the Mosaiques cannot be bettered.

One of the finest recordings in chamber music.......2005-03-22

This superb recording is one of the finest recordings of 18th-century chamber music and stands at the pinnacle of great quartet playing. The combination of Haydn's compositional innovations, the Mosaiques' stauresque period-musicianship and the cutting-edge DDD recording makes this two-CD set rise to the top of excellence. This recording won a 1993 Gramophone award and - with the Mosaiques' Op. 33, 76 and 77 - are Gramophone's top pick for Haydn's quartets among all available recordings. Additionally, Penguin Guide awarded this set the distinctive ROSETTE rating along with a "Key Recommended Recording" citing (ie: ideal for building a collection). One listen should reveal the reasons for such top accolades.

There is something about the Op.20 Haydn quartets performed by the Mosaiques that is ever-so-captivating. I stumbled upon the set at the library and was absolutely amazed at the unique and dramatic sound and style of this quartet. The tones and textures they create on their period (gut string) instruments are equisitely shaped and highly alluring. Additionally in these fine all-digital recordings, you can hear each of the four string's dramatic tonal colorations played in superb definition - a clarity not matched by any other recording I have listened to. The Penguin Guide confirmed such an impression: "This is playing of rare distinction which is immensely revealing and rewarding, helped by a state-of-the-art recording of complete realism and presence within an acoustic that provides the necessary intimacy of ambiance."

The Op.20 quartets are historic in many ways, the main one being that they were among the first true quartet compositions of any kind, with independent parts given to each instrument. Also, having been composed during Haydn's "Storm and Stress" phase in the 1770's, they exude a distinct (pre-Romantic-era) emotional uneasiness and dissonance - but new sounds still within the boundaries of the good Vienesse taste of Haydn. The sharp shifts in rhythm, dynamics, and tempos are part of this new expressiveness that makes Op. 20 fairly unique among Haydn's many quartets. And with their period instruments and stark yet attractive style of shaping notes (no vibrato), the Mosaiques bring out this "Storm & Stress" intensity with great effect and expression. Their bold and superbly precise starts and stops and cresendos bring great drama to the music as Haydn intended and better than modern insrument quartets in my opinion. Equally, the Mosaiques bring out Haydn's playful side in the "scherzo" movements with great bouyancy and charm but without going over into pretentiousness. Their slow movements are pure artistry and elegance and done with the most nuanced shades of tonal colour and dynamic.

If you could only splurge for one Mosaique's recording, Op. 20 is really most special and recommended. Their reading of this work is truly staturesque. Part of the reason is because their style and more robust, gutsy tone are ideally suited for this most dramatic composition of Haydn - which essentially launched the modern string quartet form. Most recommended.

Haydn with sense and sensibility.......2004-11-07

These performances of Haydn's opus 20 by the Mosaiques are widely considered to be a top recommendation by experts such as Grammophone and the Penguin guide. Why is that so? First, Haydn's opus 20 is a landwark of the string quartet literature: after initial efforts that are closer to a divertimento, Haydn succeeds in establishing the layout of the string quartet that would be followed in the centuries to come: first movement in ABA (sonata) form, a slow second movement, a light-hearted third (a menuetto) and a fast-paced finale. That said, the opus 20 quartets see Hadyn experimenting with alternatives: in three of the quartets, the second and third movement are switched. On other two quarterts, the finale is based on a fuge (antecipating Beethoven's famous opus 133). These experimentations are fascinating attempts at finding the right balance, and no chamber music lover can fail to have them in his collection. The performance do full justice to the importance of the piece: although the Mosaiques play with period instruments, theirs is not a strict "period performance". The Mosaiques are rather more faithful to Hadyn's spirit: their interpretation captures all different paces and structures of Haydn's opus 20. This is an "all period" recording which puts together skill, knowledge and sensibility to a extraordinary effect. Finally, the two sets are available at a very attractive price. I bought those for 50 pounds at a Mosaiques concert in England. You can have them for far less, and enjoy them as much as I do.

Excellent performance overall........2003-12-31

As a child, I remember sitting on the floor in front of the stereo transfixed by Haydn's Quartet op. 20 no. 4 in D. I simply couldn't believe what I was hearing. As soon as I had saved enough allowance, I bought the Juilliard Quartet recording of these "Sun" Quartets, an expansive and somewhat romantic recording which made the most of the high level of emotion in these works.

I'm always a bit reluctant to buy "period instrument" recordings, especially when I am so familiar with a particular sound and interpretation. It's not that I don't appreciate historical accuracy, but so often the interpretations are unmusical, meaning either deliberately "scholarly" or "faux bizarre", with all kinds of liberties taken (tempo, ornamentation, etc.) to make a performance more "interesting".

I'm happy to report that the Quatour Mosaiques plays with beauty, feeling, and best of all, allows Haydn's genius its due. These quartets are the first fully-developed, profound, and utterly mature works of their kind and QM does them absolute justice. The melodic passages aren't burdened by ego, the accompaniaments aren't ponderous, the tempi are darn near perfect (the Adagio variations of no. 4 are just a touch too slow, which detracts from the inexorable and tragic coda) and the most difficult of them, no. 3, is played with such a combination of fire and restraint (elegance) that it is easy to see where Mozart obtained inspiration for his String Quintet in the same key (although the Haydn quartet is much more daring in many respects). My only complaint is an occasional thinness of tone (some vibrato would help, particularly in the slow movement of no. 1) and a general lack of variation in sound (not only tone color, but also a lack of variation in volume). Other than that, I recommend this recording wholeheartedly, especially to those of you who aren't familiar with Haydn's earlier quartets. With their fugues, their frequent minor keys, sudden changes of mood, chromaticism, formal experiments, thematic links (especially no. 2), and their overall lyrical expression, these quartets plumb greater depths than many of their later counterparts.

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 20 No's. 2, 5 & 6

Average customer rating:

Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 20 No's. 2, 5 & 6

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
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.20/1, 3, 4
Haydn: The 3 String Quartets Op. 55 "Tost II"
Haydn: String Quartets Op. 33 Nos. 3, 5 & 6
Haydn: String Quartets Op. 33 Nos. 1, 2 & 4
Haydn: String Quartets Op. 74

ASIN: B00000IYNC
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in C: First Movement - Moderato
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in C: Second Movement - Capriccio (Adagio)
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in C: Third Movement - Menuet (Allegretto)
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in C: Fourth Movement - Fuga a 4 Soggetti (Allegro)
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in F Minor: First Movement - Moderato
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in F Minor: Second Movement - Menuet
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in F Minor: Third Movement - Adagio
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in F Minor: Fourth Movement - Fuga a 2 Soggetti
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in A: First Movement - Allegro di molto e scherzando
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in A: Second Movement - Adagio
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in A: Third Movement - Menuet
String Quartets Op. 20 Nos. 2, 5, & 6: String Quartet in A: Fourth Movement - Fuga a 3 Soggetti (Allegro)

Average customer rating:

Haydn: Six Popular String Quartets

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

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000I9A3
Release Date: 1999-03-23

Tracks:

'The Sun' Str Qt No.4 in D, Op.20 No.4: First Movt: Allegro Di Molto
'The Sun' Str Qt No.4 in D, Op.20 No.4: Second Movt: Un Poco Adagio Affetuoso
'The Sun' Str Qt No.4 in D, Op.20 No.4: Third Movt: Menuetto. Allegretto Alla Zingarese
'The Sun' Str Qt No.4 in D, Op.20 No.4: Fourth Movt: Presto Scherzando
Str Qt in E flat, Op.33 No.2 (The Joke): First Movt: Allegro Moderato
Str Qt in E flat, Op.33 No.2 (The Joke): Second Movt: Scherzo - Allegro
Str Qt in E flat, Op.33 No.2 (The Joke): Third Movt: Largo E Sostenuto
Str Qt in E flat, Op.33 No.2 (The Joke): Fourth Movt: Presto
Str Qt in C, Op.33 No.3 (The Bird): First Movt: Allegro Moderato
Str Qt in C, Op.33 No.3 (The Bird): Second Movt: Scherzo - Allegro
Str Qt in C, Op.33 No.3 (The Bird): Third Movt: Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Str Qt in C, Op.33 No.3 (The Bird): Fourth Movt: Presto