Dvorák: String Quartets Opp. 96 "American" and 106

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Naxos is currently the only major record label devoting any serious and systematic attention to the great legacy of classical chamber music from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. They have complete sets of quartets by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Shostakovich, and Dvorák in the works, and of these the Dvorák series is the most important. Dvorak wrote 14 quartets in all, ranging from the longest classical string quartet in history (No. 3, at some 70 minutes!), to the finest works in the medium since Beethoven (Nos. 13 and 14). They represent an entire universe of superb music awaiting the discovery of music lovers, and at a budget price these able performances offer the curious their best chance yet to try them out. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

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

Amazon.com

Naxos is currently the only major record label devoting any serious and systematic attention to the great legacy of classical chamber music from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. They have complete sets of quartets by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Shostakovich, and Dvorák in the works, and of these the Dvorák series is the most important. Dvorak wrote 14 quartets in all, ranging from the longest classical string quartet in history (No. 3, at some 70 minutes!), to the finest works in the medium since Beethoven (Nos. 13 and 14). They represent an entire universe of superb music awaiting the discovery of music lovers, and at a budget price these able performances offer the curious their best chance yet to try them out. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Best.......2006-01-16

The Vlach Prague Quartet nails this. I can imagine that Dvorak would like it played this way...no other recoding conveys this amount of emotion. Some other well rated recordings Leave me cold.

gorgeous.......2001-04-29

All around beauty, sumptuously played. I like a very romantic, old world approach to this repetoire, and that's just what this group provides: relaxed tempos quick to pick up the pace when needed, a tendency toward rapt intensity, a coaxing and moulded handling of those lusciously long melodic lines, and a big rich warm tone. It's all here, and in spades. My only quibble would be that the first violinist does not "stand out" with her great melody in the last movement of the American -- that her line gets lost in an overly blended sonority. A nitpick only. I heartily recommend this disc, and at its price you can afford to add it to a collection that already possesses an "American".

Excellent Performances of Fine Music.......2000-08-09

These two fine performances are another fine addition to the Vlach Quartet's splendid traversal of the Dvorák's music for string quartet. The recordings, done by Naxos in the Martinek Studio in Prague, are excellent.

The most popular of Dvorák's quartets is no. 12, Op. 96, dubbed the "American" quartet because it was composed during his sojourn in the United States. The Vlach's give the first movement Allegro a tasteful, romantic interpretation. The famous slow movement, one of the glories of chamber music, is done with ravishing beauty. The sprightly Molto Vivace is done with and good humour, while the final movement is spirited and graceful in turns.

I have an older recording with the Gabrieli Quartet on LP, which is very beautiful, as well. Since it is similarly conceived, a comparison is in order. Though not better than the Vlach's, their performance of the Lento second movement is particularly lovely. However, they seem a little more self-consciously arty, less idiomatic, than the Vlach Quartet does in this repertoire. I suppose this is a matter of taste, but I prefer the Vlach performance. The recording, while quite good, is not as natural as the Naxos one.

I have no comparisons for Quartet no. 13, Op. 106, but the playing is quite wonderful. The highly original first movement Allegro is full of cross rhythms, and sounds like nothing else I have ever heard. The Adagio second movement is has achingly beautiful close harmonies, which are perfectly judged by the Vlachs. The third movement is a forthright Molto Vivace, given a vigourous performance. The fourth moverment starts out slowly, but soon becomes more agitated. It seems the titles of most of Dvorák's movements do not express the contents, as they contain material with a variety of moods and tempos. Suffice to say that the Vlach Quartet negotiates the interpretative difficulties of the fourth movement with ease, and give a rousing climax.

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 12 In F Major Op. 96 'American': Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major Op. 96 'American': Lento
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major Op. 96 'American': Molto vivace
Vivace ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major Op. 105: Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro appassionato
String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major Op. 105: Molto Vivace
String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major Op. 105: Lento e molto cantabile
String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major Op. 105: Allegro, non tanto