Beethoven string quartets by Melos Qt.?
Simon Roberts
wrote:
>Very cheap:
>
>Beethoven: String Quartets
>Op. 74, 95, 127, 132, 133, 135; Featuring The Melos Quartet
>£ 4.99
>3 x CD Label: Concerto Royale
>
>http://www.mdcmusic.co.uk/getCD.cfm?&CDID=4161
>
>Does anyone know these recordings? Original label? Recording date?
>I can't believe that these are the DG recordings.
They aren't, unfortunately. These were recorded a decade or so earlier,
previously released on CD by Intercord.
Simon
Hartmut Fritzsche
Hartmut
Simon Roberts
"Peter Hewitt" <peter...@rty23net.org> wrote in message
news:tms8vt0lphcj1gtrs...@4ax.com...
>
> Thanks Simon and Hartmut, but are they any good and worth the modest
> outlay?
Well, I suppose it depends on what your taste is and what other
recordings you have, if any. I'm very keen on their DG remakes
(evidently hardly anyone agrees), compared to which I remember these as
lacking flair and boldness and being somewhat drably recorded (at least
as revealed on the cheap Intercord CDs). I should note, though, that
I've not listened to them in over a decade, so I can't be more precise
about them. Maybe they would now strike me as being a safe enough
"middle-of-the-road" entry point. Of course, at that price you could
always try one of the sets and see what you think.... (Have they all
been reissued? When I was in Edinburgh in August and came across these
twofers it seemed to me that not all the quartets had been released, at
least not yet.)
Simon
Edward Jasiewicz
"Simon Roberts" <sd...@pobox.upenn.edu> wrote in message
news:9t1sr9$dpu$1...@netnews.upenn.edu...
> ... I'm very keen on their DG remakes
> (evidently hardly anyone agrees) ...
Count me in; I think they're among the great recordings of the
works. Very wild and impassioned to my ears.
friendly regards,
-ed
Markesten
news:9t1sr9$dpu$1...@netnews.upenn.edu...
> ... I'm very keen on their DG remakes
> (evidently hardly anyone agrees) ... >>
Their DG set is one of the finest available. Great sound, very immediate
playing. The Melos has the knack of instilling an element of surprise into
these readings without distorting the music.
I'd recommend it as a first choice.
William D. Kasimer
>Their DG set is one of the finest available. Great sound, very immediate
>playing. The Melos has the knack of instilling an element of surprise into
>these readings without distorting the music.
>
>I'd recommend it as a first choice.
So would I, except that it's not available - out of print, and pretty hard
to
find. And since DG already has the Emerson and the Amadeus sets in print,
it's probably not going to be reissued any time soon.
Bill
William D. Kasimer
wkas...@quincymc.org
wkas...@mediaone.net
-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 80,000 Newsgroups - 16 Different Servers! =-----
Roberto Poli
> news:tms8vt0lphcj1gtrs...@4ax.com...
> >
> > Thanks Simon and Hartmut, but are they any good and worth the modest
> > outlay?
>
> Well, I suppose it depends on what your taste is and what other
> recordings you have, if any. I'm very keen on their DG remakes
> (evidently hardly anyone agrees), compared to which I remember these as
> lacking flair and boldness and being somewhat drably recorded (at least
> as revealed on the cheap Intercord CDs).
I agree. I have the complete set of the early recording, which I
bought for something like $20 some seven years ago and never
particularly loved. It's very middle-of-the-road playing, and not
always in tune... I haven't heard the DG remakes, which I'm extremely
curious about.
Best,
RP
Michael Sullivan
quartets?
M. Sullivan
Simon Roberts
"Michael Sullivan" <Haydn...@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:3BF6C2F7...@netscape.net...
> What are some of the group's favorite recordings of Josef Haydn's
string
> quartets?
>
Top of the list: Apponyi Qt's amazing, extrovert performances of op. 33.
After that, just about any of the Mosaiques' recordings, the Allegri
Qt's opp. 54/55, Juilliard op. 54, Griller op. 71/74 (esp. op. 74/3),
Hagen op. 20, Archibudelli's op. 77, Tokyo op. 20/4 (has that ever been
released on CD?) and the Musikverein's half of op. 76. Below these is a
layer of very good performances by the Berg, Carmina, and Eder in Op.
76, some by the Festetics, Nomos op. 50, Panocha op. 55 and a few
others.
Simon
Mark K. Ehlert
>
> "Michael Sullivan" <Haydn...@netscape.net> wrote in message
> news:3BF6C2F7...@netscape.net...
> > What are some of the group's favorite recordings of Josef Haydn's
> string
> > quartets?
> >
>
> Top of the list: Apponyi Qt's amazing, extrovert performances of op. 33.
Still on my "to do" list. I gotta get my butt in gear and pick this one up.
> ...Archibudelli's op. 77...
Has this group done any other Haydn quartet recordings?
--
Mark K. Ehlert
To respond via e-mail, X = 3
Simon Roberts
"Mark K. Ehlert" <ludwig...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3bf6...@152.65.161.36...
>
> Has this group done any other Haydn quartet recordings?
Not as far as I know.
Simon
Edward A. Cowan
Best of all, however, are the old LPs of the Schneider Quartet. Although
they had intended to record all of the quartets, they did not get around
to recording Opp.54, 55, 64, 71, and 74.
I rejoice to read the recommendations in this thread re various
recordings on CD. I must point out that the Tatrai Op.76 was, I believe,
their first set of Haydn quartets, and, though they went on to record
the entire body of those works, their recorded performances slowly
deteriorated in quality (mainly increasingly wayward intonation) such
that the series must be viewed as seriously flawed.
The Kodaly Quartet does not seem to have intonation problems, but
several of their recordings that I have heard seem rather tame to
borderline dull.
Another set, not complete, that deserves to be heard is the reissue of
the 78rpm sets by the Pro Arte Quartet on Testament.
Michael Sullivan <Haydn...@netscape.net> wrote:
--
E.A.C.
Lena
> news:9t6hd0$90l$1...@netnews.upenn.edu...
> >
> > "Michael Sullivan" <Haydn...@netscape.net> wrote in message
> > news:3BF6C2F7...@netscape.net...
> > > What are some of the group's favorite recordings of Josef Haydn's
> string
> > > quartets?
> > >
> >
> > Top of the list: Apponyi Qt's amazing, extrovert performances of op. 33.
>
> Still on my "to do" list. I gotta get my butt in gear and pick this one up.
Might be hard to find... (depending of course how long it takes for you
to get yourself in gear :) ). www.adorishop.de is, or at least was, an
option.
Lena
Steve Emerson
len...@yahoo.com (Lena) wrote:
HMV.com (Canada) supplied it for me not too long ago. (OTOH, Mosaiques' Op 33
is readily available, cheap, one of their best, and I think more to my taste
than Apponyi. I don't disagree that Apponyi is more extrovert.)
SE.
Bob Lombard
I listened to the Festetics play the op. 9 quartets t'other
evening; enjoyed the music and their playing of it (if that
distinction makes sense. Noticed that the 1st violinist is
named Istvan Kertesz. Isn't (wasn't?) there a conductor by
that name? Same guy?
bl
Simon Roberts
Simon
"Bob Lombard" <hill...@vermontel.net> wrote in message
news:19bhvt8bvf7btfcdg...@4ax.com...
Edward A. Cowan
played no.1 in the series this evening, and I was deeply satisfied with
what I heard. Not only is the instrumental playing very beautiful, but
the players sound like they actually love the music! For comparison, I
played also the Budapest SQ recording (Odyssey LP): The Budapest sounds
dutiful by comparison, though the familiar polished playing is much in
evidence. I think I like the ABQ more in this work. (But there's still
the Schneider...)
--
E.A.C.
Frank Geck
> named Istvan Kertesz. Isn't (wasn't?) there a conductor by
> that name? Same guy?
>
Just coincidence. Seems to be a common hungarian name.
The great conductor left hungary in 1956, became german and died in
1973 in Tel Aviv.
Frank
Bob Lombard
Ah. Probably not the same guy then. Now, about the viola
player named Ligeti...
bl
Kirk McElhearn
> What are some of the group's favorite recordings of Josef Haydn's string
> quartets?
I don't have many, but their is a brilliant new recording of 7 quartets
by the Emerson Quartet that is either just out or due out soon on DG.
They are bubbling over with enthusiasm, and they have a very tight
sound.
Kirk
Rodger Whitlock
A. Cowan) wrote:
> A follow-up: Today, I acquired the ABQ recordings of Haydn's Op.76....
> (But there's still the Schneider...)
Music & Arts at one time were going to reissue the Schneider
series, but the idea seems to have died a-borning. Anyone know
what's happening?
--
Rodger "dim and vacuous" Whitlock
Victoria, BC, Canada
Edward A. Cowan
of Op.76, no.1 and also the Tatrai, both from LPs. (I do have the Tatrai
on CD, but I was already set up for LPs, so I played that edition.) Both
recordings take iii and iv too slowly IMHO. The 3rd mvt., though a
menuet, is marked "Presto," and that's how the ABQ and the Budapest
played it. The Schneider is another loving performance like the ABQ.
Tatrai sound studious and devoted but rather matter-of-fact. The string
tone here is slightly astringent, though the pitch problems heard in
later recordings are not in evidence here. I like best the ABQ and the
Schneider.
--
E.A.C.
Edward A. Cowan
the M&A edition of the Schneider might have appeared by now. To be sure,
that's an awful lot of quartets! --E.A.C.
Rodger Whitlock <toto...@mail.pacificcoast.net> wrote:
> Music & Arts at one time were going to reissue the Schneider
> series, but the idea seems to have died a-borning. Anyone know
> what's happening?
--
E.A.C.
Lena
> > > > Top of the list: Apponyi Qt's amazing, extrovert performances of op. 33.
[...]
> HMV.com (Canada) supplied it for me not too long ago. (OTOH, Mosaiques' Op 33
> is readily available, cheap, one of their best, and I think more to my taste
> than Apponyi. I don't disagree that Apponyi is more extrovert.)
How's this for an untimely response?
I really like the Apponyi's energy, and they are, I think, excellent
at making sense of many of the movements. For example, in comparison
with the Apponyi, Tatrai's Op. 33/5/i is rather unbelievably badly put
together! (They play the notes beautifully in 4-measure increments, but
that's all they do...) The Apponyi seem to know what actually happens in
the movement. (I shudder to think what the Kodaly is capable of here.)
I haven't heard the Mosaiques in Op.33, but I'm curious, since you
rate them so highly.
One small thing needs to be said perhaps: very sonically sensitive
people, whatever those are, may find the Apponyi's sound difficult since
it's not quite centered. This kind of twiddling with intonation can be
considered harsh or unlovely (or just plain flat :) ) by some people.
But if that's not a deterrent, and the positives mentioned above are
considerations, the set is highly recommended. Recommended if it's
available, that is. :)
Lena
Martha & Russ Oppenheim
Mike Prager wrote:
>
> On Sat, 17 Nov 2001 20:22:45 GMT, Michael Sullivan
> <Haydn...@netscape.net> wrote:
>
> >What are some of the group's favorite recordings of Josef Haydn's string
> >quartets?
>
> I seem to be in the minority here, but I like the Lindsay
> Quartet's newer versions (lively!), and I also like the
> Angeles Quartet's (relatively new) set on Philips. The latter
> are enjoyable performances with excellent intonation and
> recorded in far better than average sound.
>
I suppose there's no prospect of the Angeles being issued separately
rather than in the big fat expensive box. I would love to get a decent
Op 9 and a better Op 17; currently the only options are Tatrai (decent
Op 17, atrocious Op 9), the sleepwalking Kodalys, and period-instrument
groups.
Simon Roberts
<NOSPAM....@NOSPAM.alum.mit.edu> wrote:
>
>I seem to be in the minority here, but I like the Lindsay
>Quartet's newer versions (lively!), and I also like the
>Angeles Quartet's (relatively new) set on Philips. The latter
>are enjoyable performances with excellent intonation and
>recorded in far better than average sound.
Don't you find that in many quartets the Angeles sound weirdly balanced,
with the first violin prominent and the lower strings often reduced to a
vague mumble? It's a shame - based on the quartets I've heard in the box
(not many, but a sampling from across the spectrum) their playing (at
least the first violinist's!) is very good and the performances better
than many.
Simon
ulvi
<Haydn...@netscape.net> wrote:
>What are some of the group's favorite recordings of Josef Haydn's string
>quartets?
Festetics (Op.17, Op.74, Op.76), Mosaiques (Op.20, Op.76),
Apponyi (Op.33), Kodaly (Op.20, Op.50, Op.64), Griller (Op.74),
Orlando (Op.64), Suk (Op.50, Op.76, Op.54; selections),
Endellion (Op.54, Op.74), Cerubini (7 last words).
--
Ulvi
ulvi.yu...@jpl.nasa.gov
MIFrost
Tatrai by a very wide margin. But speaking of the ABQ, would you have
an opinion about their Dvorak? I have their Beethoven cycle and like
it a lot. I have a Dvorak disc by the Prazak doing #12 and two other
works but I wonder about the ABQ for other Dvorak SQs. I don't mean to
change the subject so you can ignore this if you like.
Thank you.
MIFrost
eac...@anet-dfw.com (Edward A. Cowan) wrote in message news:<1f35817.1kp6rr5ye2xq8N%eac...@anet-dfw.com>...
David Wake
> Don't you find that in many quartets the Angeles sound weirdly
> balanced, with the first violin prominent and the lower strings
> often reduced to a vague mumble?
I thought that was standard recording technique for string quartets.
David