Mozart: String Quintets (Complete), Vol. 1

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The earliest of Mozart's string quintets, the work of a teenager, is still worthwhile Mozart. K. 515 is a masterpiece of the highest order. It's always a privilege to hear these pieces, but in the present instance it's a cheap treat also. The Eder Quartet and friend play with equal measures of vitality and refinement, giving us performances that would be competitive at any price. At Naxos's price, this disc is a steal. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Very classical Mozart.......2007-04-09

Whether you give this recording the 5 stars its awards suggest or not, will probably depend on the way you like your Mozart played. This recording by the Talich Quartet + violist Karel Rehak is very much in the classical style, low dynamic range, and relatively little vibrato. I'm not sure if they are using period instruments but it does sound like it. Add to this a rather "dry" acoustic in this French recording with not a lot of resonance and I think you will get the general picture. This works very well in the youthfully high-spirited and somewhat experimental K.178. It is worth noting here that just as Haydn can be said to have "invented" the string quartet. Mozart was the first composer of any note to use the quintet form, which he came to use in his later period in preference to the four player version, to produce some of his most characteristic, personal and individual music.
The K516 Quintet is a strange and extremely unsettling piece. Time and again the rather bouncy rhythms clash with some very tortured harmonies. Written shortly after the death of his father, with whom he had a close but not untroubled relationship, it is full of unresolved grief and forced bonhomie. The Talich's understated performance avoids most of the major issues - probably just as well, as musically this is the least successful of the six. You could hardly imagine Beethoven, still less Brahms (Mozart's greatest admirer of course) writing such a "throwaway" finale. Mozart appears here, for the time being at least, to have completely abandoned the comforts of religion and provided us with a truthful, if somewhat ugly self-portrait.
By contrast the K515 in Ut Majeur (I'm still not sure what key that is, I wish the French didn't insist on their ridiculous notation) is the Mozart we all know and love. Urbane and relaxed, it is the perfect blend of wit and seriousness - the former predominating and an absolute delight throughout. Solid playing from the Talich quartet + Karel Rehak, maybe they could have had a little more fun in the finale....
The Quintet in C minor K406 is one of the few cases where Köchel appears to have got it wrong, as it was in fact written after the two previous pieces, but as it is a rewrite of his K388 Serenade for Wind Instruments he may perhaps be forgiven. The cover notes incidentally, otherwise admirable, merely add to the confusion here. The reasons for this re-arrangement are obscure, but the result is unarguable. For me at least, this is one the most Schubertian of Mozart's pieces, with many a foretaste of "Death and the Maiden". The mood is predominantly somber and agitated and there is none of the sense of reconciliation that Brahms found later. The finale is another example of "forced jollity" but a bit better controlled than in K515, rather like dancing a polka after having witnessed someone's murder - or committed it. This is an absolutely gripping piece in which the Talich's style works to perfection.
The Clarinet Quintet is one of the finest and most beautiful pieces of music ever written and far too well known to comment on here. There have been many fine performances - sadly not this is not one of them. Chief culprit is soloist Bohuslav Zahardnik, whose stubborn refusal of both vibrato and rubato lends this otherwise most "romantic" piece (which was an absolute favorite of Brahms) a disappointingly pedestrian air, which even a very well-judged change of pace in the final movement cannot redeem. Zukerman, Menuhin and de Peyer, where were you?
Looks like it's going down to the wire - K593 and K614. If Mozart was beset by self doubt and existential angst in his final years as some have claimed, there's not a trace of it in the sparkling K593 quintet, which positively bristles with invention. The cyclic form of the first movement anticipates many 19th century works and there is some very novel use of pizzicato. The final movement, part rondo, part canon, part fugue is almost bewildering in its array of musical ideas. The acoustic also seems better on the final disc with a lot more resonance. If K406 was Schubertian, then this is most definitely Beethoven at his lively early best and I am pleased to relate that the Talich Quartet + Karel Rehak give this brilliant piece an appropriately brilliant performance, full of contrast and energy as well as immaculate precision.
I can't quite make up my mind about K614. This was the first time I'd heard it and despite a bright opening with "hunting" motifs and some complex writing in the finale I found it disappointingly slight, as of course Mozart can be, nothing wrong with the performance and maybe I'm missing something, but it surely needed a "bigger", more contrasting, slow movement.
What's the final verdict: to be honest I've got to say mixed. There isn't a performance in this set that says, "unforgettable". On the other hand there isn't an absolute stinker either and if you like the 18th century sound and very classical interpretations then there is a lot on these records you can enjoy.

Major Mozart!.......2007-02-09

The six string quintets are less commonly performed and less well known that the quartets, but they are not lesser pieces. They are robust, complex, dramatic music, full of Mozartean surprises. They should rank among his masterpieces, even the early KV 174. You will hear the future in them, more of the birth of the Romantic than the waning of the Rococo. The Talich Quartet performs them well and, as other reviewers have noted, the recording quality of these disks is excellent.

Outstanding.......2007-01-05

You don't need me to tell you, as others have, that this is a truly magnificent recording. A flawless performance by the Talich quartet in its sheer joy, vigour, precision and teamwork, and also an outstanding recording in its clarity and brightness. It helps also, of course, that the quintets are in very top rank of Mozart's chamber music. My congratulatons to all concerned.

Musical Heaven - The Very Highest Quality.......2006-08-12

The Talich Quartet have given us 3 CDs of musical heaven with these quintets. Both the performance and the sound engineering are outstanding. The sound quality is, indeed, so unbelievably good that it really is as another reviewer described it: like having these musicians right in front of you, giving a wonderful performance in your own living room. I have had these CDs for over a year now and have listened to them many times with great pleasure. These quintets radiate with warmth, gracefulness, moments of touching sadness, and other moments of infectious joy. As I was listening to the clarinet quintet this morning, after having listened to it so many times before, I once again felt moved by the beauty of this performance. This is a special recording with a magical beauty.

This is a performance of the very highest quality, where the musicians communicate perfectly with each other and completely succeed in communicating to the listener their love for this music. Some of the previous reviewers have commented that even those persons who prefer other types of classical music, such as symphonies or concertos, and who do not ordinarily consider themselves as being interested in chamber music, still owe it to themselves to listen to this set. I wholeheartedly agree. This is indeed the kind of truly outstanding performance that could convert someone to chamber music. The CD booklet is also excellent, with a detailed informative essay discussing each of the quintets. Highly and enthusiastically recommended.

Required Listening for true Mozartians.......2006-05-04

While Mozart's string quartets are somewhat uneven, the quintets are all masterpieces, especially K. 516, one of his most original and daring works. If you are a true Mozartian, this music is required listening. The performances here are simply superb, absolutely riveting in their drama. As a bonus, there is Mozart's most beautiful chamber work, the clarinet quintet. Three CD's for the price of one, outstanding music and wonderful performances, you cannot go wrong.

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Clarinet Magic
Excellent interpretation of Mozart
Simply Spectacular
Tasteful performance? No way...

Mozart / Brahms: Clarinet Quintets
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , David Shifrin , Eugene Drucker , and Emerson String Quartet
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000IX73
Release Date: 1999-05-11

Tracks:

Quintet For Clarinet And String Quartet In A Major, K.581: 1. Allegro
Quintet For Clarinet And String Quartet In A Major, K.581: 2. Larghetto
Quintet For Clarinet And String Quartet In A Major, K.581: 3. Menuetto--Trio I-II
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Quintet For Clarinet And String Quartet In B Minor, Op.115: 1. Allegro
Quintet For Clarinet And String Quartet In B Minor, Op.115: 2. Adagio
Quintet For Clarinet And String Quartet In B Minor, Op.115: 3. Andantino - Presto non assai, ma con sentimento
Quintet For Clarinet And String Quartet In B Minor, Op.115: 4. Con moto - Un poco meno mosso

Amazon.com essential recording

The Emersons and clarinetist Shifrin emphasize smoothness of line and a creamy blend of sound in this polished 1997 performance of the Mozart quintet. Tempos are ideal, giving Mozart's luxurious, long-breathed yet fragile melodies plenty of time to unfold without sacrificing animation or expressive point. Understatement rules in this interpretation, which is all the more intense and poignant because of it. The coupling is a rich, ripe, romantic account of the Brahms quintet, conveyed with passionate address and in a manner more conversational and polyphonic, less homogeneous in sound, than most. It is a dramatic and eventful reading, but one in which lyricism and beauty of tone are never sacrificed. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2006-02-11

This is an outstanding recording of these superb works. The Mozart Clarinet Quintet is simply a masterpiece. The Emerson and the clarinetist, David Shifrin, are wonderful. The Brahms quintet is performed just as well.

Clarinet Magic.......2005-08-11

Actually I am not a fan of chamber music but these two clarinet quintets, especially the Brahms one, are really superb. I cant get enough of them and keep listening to them over and over to the extent that I wore out the CD and had to buy this new one.

Excellent interpretation of Mozart.......2002-03-27

This cd is absolutely amazing. The Emerson String Quartet's Mozart playing is absolutely thrilling. Simply the best quartets around and is reflected through their work on this CD.
Also with the Brahms clarinet quintet on this recording, it shows that the quartet is extremely agile in their ability to switch styles and play it with such passion, something Brahms requires much of.

Simply Spectacular.......2002-02-28

Emerson and Shifrin make these two already perfect pieces even more spectacular than they already are. Emerson's sound is so rich and lush which lends a spectacular quality to quintets. They really get the ideal Mozartian and Bramsian qualities across in their playing. The music is subtle in it's qualities and the quintet emphasizes this. David Shifrin is flawless in his playing. He gets a rich dark sound and interprets the music perfectly. He and Emerson are a great match....they understood these two pieces and brought them out in their performance. It is just excellent all around!

Tasteful performance? No way..........2001-06-24

The opening of the Clarinet quintet by Mozart is so beautiful and pure. The smooth sound of the clarinet and the organ-like writing for the strings. Why do we let our modern playing technique ruin this opening? Why do we have to play with vibrato on EVERY note? WHY!? What is the problem? What IS good taste? Is it to treat all music the same? Mozart's own father writes in his violin school that musicians that plays with a lot of vibrato sounds like they have the fever! We know that even the 19th century violinist Joseph Joachim, who were a friend of Brahms, didn't use vibrato much at all. So what's going on? This is fact: We have no real traditions! The way we play music today has nothing to do with the way musicians once played the music of the composers of their own time. We have no respect and no interest in the sound world that Beethoven or Mozart lived in. The reasons why they wrote the music the way they did! I am tired of this arrogant relation to music that many of "the great" artists have today. No, pick up the Joseph Joachim violin school and learn how to play Brahms and you will definetely find some amazing aspects of his music that no one else cares about. The Eroica Quartet (Harmonia Mundi) is a brilliant new ensemble who plays the romantic repertoire with a fresh and intelligent attitude. Check it out! Also check out the amazing recording of the clarinet quintet by L'archibudelli (Sony Classical) on period instruments and compare the sound, the phrasing and the overall music-making with the Emerson recording and you will see my point! Or else, there is no meaning playing music by old masters who actually had real intentions!

Average customer rating:

The classical heritage

Music of Spain

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009U55QA
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Customer Reviews:

The classical heritage .......2006-04-16

The visible embellishment of this noble instrument was enriched still more by the Spanish composers, who following the traces of his contemporaries. In the case of Fernando Sor, Haydn was his musical guide, where as Aguado, could establish himself with major vehemence, due its particular style, based in the notable right-hand articulation, eschewed the classical patterns, being able to print his own music a flamboyant and refined character.

In the particular case of Fernando Sor, we have a wisdom blending of the counterpoint technique, an evocative mood from his own that, added the well known influence of the Italian composers (Domenico Cimarrosa and Giovanni Batista Pergolesi) and his beloved love for the Operatic genre, allowed him to enrich still more the lyrical possibilities of the guitar. Besides, unlike Nicolo Paganini, for instance fortunately did not transform the guitar in a simple device to show his overwhelming gifts. He used the guitar to play music, on the opposite approach of Paganini who used the music as mere device to play his instrument.

In the guitar genre there has not been most deserved and superb tribute to Mozart that this Variations Op. 9 based on a motive of The most famous Mozart ?s Magic Flute. Loaded of such imaginative freshness and enraptured inspiration you may notice that one of the Variations conserves an undeniable Italian flavor; this is one of the most beloved hidden treasures the guitar can offers us, which raise with special charm in the hands of this formidable soloist.

Aguado on the contrary acquired due his personal state of things, a notable adroitness who excelled by far, to Sor, so his musical approaches rode in opposite directions, trying to exploit at maximum levels the technical possibilities of the instrument.

Julian Bream makes a colossal tribute to both composers in this egregious and golden album.

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Mozart: Quintets, Quartets, Trios, etc.

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004YSBG
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Mozart: The 6 Haydn-Quartets; The 6 String Quintets

Average customer rating:

Unmissable!
A knockout bargain

Mozart: The 6 Haydn-Quartets; The 6 String Quintets
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Milton Katims , and Budapest String Quartet
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ASIN: B00008S7HM
Release Date: 2003-05-12

Tracks:

Cd-1 (1-4) (The 6 Haydn-Quartets 1-12 ) String Quartet In G Major, K.387
Cd-1 (5-8) String Quartet In D Minor, K.412 (217b)
Cd-1 (9-12) String Quartet In B-Flat Major, K.458 "The Hunt"
Cd-2 (1-4) String Quartet In E Major, K.428 (421b)
Cd-2 (5-8) String Quartet In A Major, K.464
Cd-2 (9-12) String Quartet In C Major, K.465 "Dissonant"
Cd-3 (1-4) (The 6 String Quintets 1-12) String Quintet No.1 In B-Flat Major, K.174
Cd-3 (5-8) String Quintet No.2 In C Minor, K.406 (516b)
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Cd-4 (1-4) String Quintet No.4 In G Minor, K.516
Cd-4 (5-8) String Quintet No.5 In D Major, K.593
Cd-4 (9-12) String Quintet No.6 In E-Flat Major, K.614

Album Details

4CD Box set. Columbia Legends Series.

Customer Reviews:

Unmissable!.......2005-06-13

Perhaps you should remove one star or two for production values, which are not state of the art; the sound feels very thin, missing quite a lot in body. The playing, however, is the very, very best. The world will never get a string quartet with such an understanding of Mozart! The tempos are generally brisk, but it never sounds hurried. I am used to the Quartetto Italiano on this stuff, and that played rather slowly, wonderfully as such, but slowly. The Budapest Quartet is playing quickly, but it always feels easy, elegant and relaxed.
The nerve on the quintet K. 516 is very exiting. In spite of being recorded by the mid 40ies, I've never wanted any other recordings of the quintets.
The 'Haydn' quartets are recorded by the mid 50ies, but here I would like some better sound. I've preferred the Quartetto Italiano for almost ten years; know I only listen to the Budapest. I guess that my mind now is able to add the sound which is missing on the recording.
My five stars because you should not miss this - and in some years this collection perhaps will be out of print...

A knockout bargain.......2005-05-22

How can I review the greatest string quartet ever? The recording is quite decent, a remastering of LPs that were already excellent. Don't think scratchy reissue.

And the performance? My god, these guys are total quartetness--I just listened to the Dissonant Quartet, and there is a rhythmic thrust beyond others, no matter when recorded. The proof is in the astounding gasps--there's no more accurate term--in the last movement. There may have been equally good performances that I'll never know because they were early 20th century, but thanks there are these great performances that got the benefit of good recording.

Average customer rating:

Gramophone "Top 100 Recording"

Mozart: The Complete Quintets, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000041MR
Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

String Quintet In G Minor, KV 516 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 1. Allegro
String Quintet In G Minor, KV 516 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 2. Menuetto (Allegretto)
String Quintet In G Minor, KV 516 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 3. Adagio ma non troppo
String Quintet In G Minor, KV 516 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 4. Adagio -- Allegro
Adagio And Fugue In C Minor, KV 546: Adagio
Adagio And Fugue In C Minor, KV 546: Fugue
Quintet In A, KV 581 For Clarinet, 2 Violins, Viola And Cello: 1. Allegro
Quintet In A, KV 581 For Clarinet, 2 Violins, Viola And Cello: 2. Larghetto
Quintet In A, KV 581 For Clarinet, 2 Violins, Viola And Cello: 3. Menuetto
Quintet In A, KV 581 For Clarinet, 2 Violins, Viola And Cello: 4. Allegretto con variazioni

Tracks:

String Quintet In D, KV 593 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: I. Larghetto - Allegro
String Quintet In D, KV 593 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 2. Adagio
String Quintet In D, KV 593 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
String Quintet In D, KV 593 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 4. Finale (Allegro)
String Quintet In E Flat, KV 614 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: I. Allegro di molto
String Quintet In E Flat, KV 614 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 2. Andante
String Quintet In E Flat, KV 614 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
String Quintet In E Flat, KV 614 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 4. Allegro
Adagio And Rondo In C, KV 617 For Glass Harmonica, Flute, Oboe, Viola And Cello: Adagio
Adagio And Rondo In C, KV 617 For Glass Harmonica, Flute, Oboe, Viola And Cello: Rondo

Amazon.com

Mozart really liked the number 5. Aside from the group of six string quartets dedicated to Haydn, just about all of his greatest chamber works are quintets, and some of them are very unusual too. This particular set contains three magnificent late string quintets, the ever popular Clarinet Quintet, and weirdly wonderful Adagio and Rondo for Glass Harmonica, Flute, Oboe, Viola and Cello. A glass harmonica, by the way, is a set of water-filled glasses that you set spinning and play with moistened fingertips. It was invented (or at least perfected) by Benjamin Franklin, and was wildly popular in Mozart's day, particularly among amateur female performers. An excellent collection in every respect. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Gramophone "Top 100 Recording".......2005-03-27

In addition to the masterpiece G-minor Quintet (K.516), this second volume contains several other significant works. Most notably is the masterpiece Clarinet Quintet (K.581), a highly-angular Adagio/Fugue in rare key of C-minor, Mozart's last chamber composition (string quintet K.614) and a unique, late work for the unusual "glass harmonica". The two pieces for glass harmonica (basically, an invention of rotating glass bowls that ping when struck) are gentle, etherial compositions that Mozart wrote just before his death for a blind virtuoso of this unusual instrument (hence the late Kochel number K. 617). They are quite unique compositions in all of classical music. Equally dreamy in tone is the much-loved Clarinet Quintet (K581) with Brymer that is much better than many other versions I have heard. (But, there are several beautiful recordings of this work). Hearing its radient, soaring autumnal textures, one is not surprised to learn that Mozart absolutely adored the clarinet and writing to its wide and expressive sonorities.

It is nearly universally agreed that Mozart's string quintets not only surpassed his earlier "Haydn" quartets but are amoung his finest chamber compositions - and in the entire clasical repertoire for that matter. Particularly, the late string quintets, K515 & 516, are thought to be Mozart's pinnacle chamber compositions. One will be hard pressed to find finer recordings of Mozart's magnificant string quintets than these by the legendary Grumiaux Trio (+ Lesueur and Gerecz to round out the quintet). Their landmark recordings here are cited in nearly every major review as a truly exceptional example of the art of chamber music playing. The major reviewers/guides (Gramophone, Jim Svejda, Penguin and Third Ear) all give them the highest accolades, while Gramophone notes that, "This edition belongs in the pantheon of Great Mozart recordings." In addition, Gramophone awarded the String Quintets here their highest award - one of the "Top 100 Recordings of All Time" - which is recognition about as high as you can get in the music world. Their playing are supremely lush, galantly poised and tonally opulant - serving this special niche of Mozart's output honorably. Grumiaux really sets a standard for the ages of how to play Mozart, and such perfection of style is seen in these works (as in much of his Mozart recordings.

Equally, the recorded sound of the highest clarity (as usual for Philips). Philip's Quintets I and II is an absolutely superb, timeless set of four CD's that contain some of the creme of the classical chamber repertoire. Having all the Quintets on four CD's is of great value - as is the DUO "twofer" price. Chamber enthusiasts will want to get both Vol.I and II as each set contains 2-3 major works that are amongst Mozart's most prized chamber compositions. A wonderful investment in history and music that will never go out of style.

Average customer rating:

Technically imperfect recordings
BEST OF THE BEST
Extraordinary performance of No. 5, Atrocious sound. Violins wrong side.
A definitive set of some relatively neglected Mozart masterworks.
Polished and vital performances

Complete String Quintets
Mozart , Grumiaux Trio , Gerecz , and Lesueur
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2002-06-11

Tracks:

1. Allegro Moderato
2. Adagio
3. Menuetto Ma Allegretto
4. Allegro
1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Menuetto In Canone
4. Allegro
1. Larghetto - Allegro
2. Adagio
3. Menuetto (Allegro)
4. Finale (Allegro)

Tracks:

1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
4. (Allegro)
1. Allegro
2. Menuetto (Allegretto)
3. Adagio Ma Non Troppo
4. Adagio - Allegro

Tracks:

1. Allegro Di Molto
2. Andante
3. Menuetto
4. Allegro
1. Allegro
2. Adagio
3. Menuetto (Allegretto) - Trio
4. Andante
5. Menuetto (Allegretto) - Trio I - Trio II
6. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Technically imperfect recordings.......2007-07-11

Whilst I love the Mozart Quintets, these recordings, to my ear, are seriously technically inaccurate in many places (especially Grumiaux's wayward old technique) and the recordings are rather 'scratchy' (too much high frequency). These problems used to irritate me when listening - so I don't any longer (not this set, anyway).

BEST OF THE BEST.......2007-05-28

If I had to name the three greatest works of chamber music that even Mozart ever produced, I don't think it would take me long to nominate the string quintets in C major and G minor and the Divertimento for string trio. Mozart loved the viola, he played the viola, and an extra viola on top of the standard string quartet drew wonders from him. Wonders were his day-to-day modus operandi of course, but I doubt that in his entire output he ever composed anything more astounding than the great and lengthy work he produced for a combination that lacked not only any second viola but even the usual second violin.

The recordings of the quintets are from 1974 with digital remastering. There is a certain amount of the `edginess' to the sound that I often associate with this process, but it does not amount to much and after a few hearings I had forgotten about it. In no way does it come between me and my enjoyment of some outstanding Mozart playing on this 3-disc set. There is only one single movement in all the 24 that make up the quintets that raises any significant doubts in my mind, and it is the first movement of the C minor. This is the composer's own arrangement of his great `serenade' for wind instruments K388 (the title chosen because Mozart did not know the term `octet') and Grumiaux and his partners elect to give it the fast-and-uneasy treatment often given to the first movement of Mozart's piano concerto in the same key. There is considerable weight of scholarly opinion behind this way of doing it, but I'm still inclined to welcome a more relaxed approach, such as I know from an interesting re-arrangement by Holliger with his oboe in place of the first violin. For me Holliger's slightly slower tempo enhances the solemnity of the movement, and it does wonders for what is already wonderful, the melody of the second subject. Otherwise I cannot speak too highly of the interpretations that we are offered here. The quintet K174 is given with the self-assurance that suits this delightful early work, extra gravitas of course attends the mature masterpieces, the slow movements of the other four quintets are sublime (with wonderful muted sound in the G minor), and Mozart's final tribute to his great mentor Haydn in the E flat quintet has all the poise and elegance I could wish for.

The Divertimento is from 1967, and the sound is not quite so good, although I have no major complaint to make. It puts this account at a slight disadvantage against a superb performance of this miracle of a work by Gidon Kremer, Kim Kashkashian and Yo-yo Ma; but that, of course, does not bring us all the other quintets at a very attractive price as this set does. In the first movement I still miss Kremer's wonderful and bold phrasing, but I doubt that I ever heard the celestial final rondo better done than it is here, by Kremer and co or by anyone.

Even the liner-notes are rather good. I wonder whether the general standard of these is looking up (a few years ago I would have said it badly needed to) or whether I have simply been lucky in this regard with my more recent purchases. There is a picture of the Grumiaux trio, but none of their two collaborators in the quintets, so let me close by highlighting the names of Arpad Gerecz and Max Lesueur for their fine contribution to what can fairly be called an outstanding set.

Extraordinary performance of No. 5, Atrocious sound. Violins wrong side........2007-01-03

I have never heard such a good preformance of ANY string quartet or quintet. Rating each movement from 1 poor to 5 I have never before rated such a recording 5 5 5 5.
The treble on all these recordings is so distorted to be almost unlistonable. Also the louds are usually far too load sounding nothing as they do in in a live performance. The parts of the other performances I could stand hearing to the end had much poorer performances, perhaps Mozart's fault since many of the themes are trivial and repeat endlessly. Over half the quartet recordings in my large collection have the violins on the wrong side. This does not bother me now since,having biwireable speakers, I have the B speakers reversed. Absent such speakers banana plugs can be quickly changed but that is a big bother. Otherwise, listen with headphones.

A definitive set of some relatively neglected Mozart masterworks........2005-09-22

It is difficult to find a decent set of Mozart's string quintets; the Deutsche Grammophone offering isn't bad; the performance is nice, but the recording isn't that great and it suffers greatly from age. This recording is also older, but the remastering is excellent - it is difficult to tell that this was recorded in the 1970's. The Grimiaux Quartet does these masterpieces justice, by toeing the line between restraint and expression perfectly, which is what is needed for an accurate and fulfilling interpretation of the works. Not only are the performances impeccable, but the music itself is amazing. If you like Mozart's string quartets, you will love his quintets as it affords the composer more freedom to add depth and layers to his compositions. Much like Brahms, Mozart just seems more at home writing in this medium than he ever did with the Quartet arrangement.
Quintets 2-6 are all late works; and as such, they resonate with counterpoint and a harmonic complexity typical of late Mozart. The highlights include the C Minor quintet, the G Minor quintet, and the final quintet, written near the end of his life, the E-Flat Major Quintet. The finale of the E Flat Major quintet is especially satisfying as, much like his final symphony the "Jupiter", Mozart goes out with a proverbial "bang" as he expounds on a 2 part fugue which deconstructs the theme into 2 distinct lines and embarks on a brain-popping contrapuntal exposition. Excellent stuff.
An added bonus is the Divertimento K 563, also in E-Flat Major, which maybe Mozart's most mature chamber offering. Definitely worth picking this up, especially at this price (3 discs for less than the price of 2).
Another fine set which I just picked up is the Quatuor Talich set on Calliope. It is also 3 disc, but it's even cheaper than this, with similarly excellent performances and pristine digital sound. Honestly, it's a tossup between the two.

Polished and vital performances.......2005-05-08

There are two extreme approaches to Mozart; one can play superficially, treating his music as harmless fluff for easy listening, or one can play his music in Romanticized fashion, wringing every last ounce of emotion out, and possibly injecting some in the process. Neither is appropriate; smooth as Mozart may be on the surface, there is depth of expression that is nonetheless spoiled by attempts to accentuate it. The wise performer must chart a middle course and avoid resolving the tension to either side if his performance is to succeed, which Arthur Grumiaux and his colleagues do in this recording.

The playing on this set is impeccable; all the performers are of the highest calibre, and are well-represented by the technicians. The recording is old but not too old, and has aged well. But most importantly, in interpreting these glorious works, the musicians never succumb to either extreme; the performances are of an aristocratic elegance that also brings out, for example, the darkness in the C-minor quintet. Highly recommended.

Mozart: String Quartets; String Quintets

Average customer rating:

Mozart: String Quartets; String Quintets

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Mozart: Quintets, Quartets, Trios, etc.
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Mozart: Divertimenti for Strings and Winds; Divertimenti & Serenades for Winds
Mozart: Piano Concertos

ASIN: B00004ZC0X
Release Date: 2006-02-21

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Mozart and Brahms: Clarinet Quintets

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2; Beethoven: Clarinet Trio
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ASIN: B00005NEZW
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Menuetto/Trio I/Trio II
IV. Rondo (Allegro Giocoso)
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Andantino/Presto Non Assai, Ma Con Sentimento
IV. Con Moto/Un Poco Meno Mosso

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Quintessential Quintets
The pinnacle of Mozart's chamber works
Mozartian bliss

Mozart: Complete Quintets, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000041MQ
Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

String Quintet In B Flat, KV 174 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 1. Allegro Moderato
String Quintet In B Flat, KV 174 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 2. Adagio
String Quintet In B Flat, KV 174 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 3. Menuetto Ma Allegretto
String Quintet In B Flat, KV 174 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 4. Allegro
String Quintet In C Minor, KV 406 (516h) For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 1. Allegro
String Quintet In C Minor, KV 406 (516h) For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 2. Adante
String Quintet In C Minor, KV 406 (516h) For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 3. Menuetto In Canone
String Quintet In C Minor, KV 406 (516h) For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 4. Allegro
Quintet In E Flat, KV 407 For Horn, Violin, 2 Violas, And Cello: 1. Allegro
Quintet In E Flat, KV 407 For Horn, Violin, 2 Violas, And Cello: 2. Andante
Quintet In E Flat, KV 407 For Horn, Violin, 2 Violas, And Cello: 3. Allegro
Adagio In B Flat, KV 411For 2 Clarinets And 3 Basset Horns

Tracks:

Quintet In E Flat, KV 452 For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, And Bassoon: 1. Largo - Allegro moderato
Quintet In E Flat, KV 452 For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, And Bassoon: 2. Larghetto
Quintet In E Flat, KV 452 For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, And Bassoon: 3. Allegretto
String Qunitet In C, KV 515 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas, And Cello: 1. Allegro
String Qunitet In C, KV 515 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas, And Cello: 2. Andante
String Qunitet In C, KV 515 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas, And Cello: 3. Menuetto. Allegretto
4. Allegro

Amazon.com

If I could pick a musical premiere out of the past that I could have attended, I would probably choose one of those evenings when Mozart and Haydn took the two viola parts in the first performances of Mozart's string quintets. It's something to wonder at, anyway. The string quintets are not only Mozart's greatest chamber music, they are among the most profoundly inspired pieces of music by anyone for any instruments. Three of them can be found on this budget priced set, superbly performed, along with the Horn Quintet, and the Quintet for Piano and Winds, which inspired Beethoven to compose a not quite as successful sequel. Greatness, folks, pure and simple. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Quintessential Quintets.......2007-03-07

This is an outstanding 2-disc set from Philips at an even more outstanding price! These enchanting chamber pieces by Mozart seem to float on air, and transport the listener to another place in time. While these works may not have the sweeping grandeur of his symphonies and operas, they possess a remarkable intimacy, spirit, and beauty. In a nutshell, these works capture the qualities that make Mozart's music in general so special. The vivid performance of the string version of the 1781 wind serenade K388, (which here is KV 406), may be the highlight of the entire set. Simply an indispensable Mozart compilation that will enrich your life for years to come!

The pinnacle of Mozart's chamber works.......2005-03-27

It is nearly universally agreed that Mozart's string quintets not only surpassed his earlier "Haydn" string quartets but are amoung his finest chamber compositions and in the entire clasical repetory. Particularly, the late string quintets, K515 & 516, are thought to be Mozart's pinnacle chamber compositions - exceedingly rich in texture and tone as well as perfected symmetry of form. This is a high-quality grouping of Mozart's wonderful and instrumentally-diverse quintets (strings, piano/winds and horn). One quintet in this first volume that may be the most special is the fairly unique quintet for piano and wind quartet - a composition that Mozart even thought to be his finest at the time of writing. Its delicacy and skill of blending the more complex and powerful tones of the clavier with the graceful, nuanced timbres of the winds shows Mozart's mastery of composing for winds.

The performances of the string quintets by the quintet featuring legendary violinist, Aurther Grumiaux, are cited in nearly every major review as a truly exceptional example of the art of chamber music playing. Gramophone, Jim Svejda, Penguin and Third Ear Guides all give them the highest ratings, while Gramophone concluded that, "This edition belongs in the pantheon of Great Mozart recordings." Additionally, Gramophone awarded the String Quintets here their highest award - one of the "Top 100 Recordings of All Time" - which is an accolade about as high as you can get. The performances have that distinct polished Grumiaux elegance and tonal opulance while the recorded sound is of the highest clarity.

Philip's Quintets I and II is an absolutely superb, timeless set of four CD's that contain some of the creme of the classical chamber repertoire. It will be hard to find a better compilation of this calibre. Chamber enthusiasts will want to get both Vol.I and II as each set contains 2-3 major works that are treasured by many a Mozart fan. A wonderful investment that will reward the listener for a lifetime.

Mozartian bliss.......2000-06-30

This is a particularly ethereal set of discs. The main works here are three String Quintets, played by an augmented Grumiaux Trio with total assurance & commitment. These are all ravishingly beautiful works. The Horn Quintet, where the soloist is Timothy Brown, is a happy and spirited piece, again wonderfully played. The only question mark surrounds the rather literal, even wooden performance of the Piano Quintet with Ingrid Haebler & The Bamberg Wind Quintet. Compared to Murray Perahia & his ECO Wind Players, the recoridng here sounds far too measured and unspontaneous. Nevertheless, this cannot detract from the magnificence of the other recorded works on this disc, which are all to be had a a very reasonable price.

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