Mozart: String Quintets, K. 515 & K. 516

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The exotic-sounding ensemble is a group of excellent period-instrument string players, most of them Dutch. In these performances they show the advantages of their instruments, not only in the transparency of the sound, but in the way they play more strongly on the softer-voiced instruments without overstressing the music. Both of these masterpieces are played extremely well; the close-up recording reveals every detail of the music, but virtually no flaws in the playing. Highly recommended, although those who wonder if they will like this music might want to try the much-less-expensive, very well played versions from the Eder Quartet (modern instruments) on Naxos. --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.

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
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Great Performances From The Library Of Congress, Vol. 6: Budapest String Quartet In Concert At The Library of Congress
Beethoven The Middle Quartets in Concert at the Library of Congress 1940-1960
Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23
Haydn: String Quartets Op. 76, Nos. 1-3
Mozart: Complete String Trios & Duos

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)
Cd-3 (9-12) String Quintet No.2 In C Major, K.515
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:

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mozart: Complete String Trios & Duos
Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23
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Mozart: The Six String Quintets
Mozart: The Violin Sonatas

ASIN: B000065TV7
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.

Average customer rating:

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.

Mozart: String Quintets (Complete), Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

Quintet/Quartet Cycle Highly Reccommended

Mozart: String Quintets (Complete), Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mozart: String Quartets, K. 156, K. 158, K. 159, K. 458
String Quartets (Complete) Vol.1 K.428 & K.464

ASIN: B00000144E
Release Date: 1994-12-13

Tracks:

String Quartet In B Flat Major, K. 174: Allegro Moderato
String Quartet In B Flat Major, K. 174: Adagio
String Quartet In B Flat Major, K. 174: Menuetto Ma Allegro
String Quartet In B Flat Major, K. 174: Allegro
Trio (Erste, Verworfene Fassung Des Menuett - Trios - First, Discarded Version Of The Trio)
Allegro (Erste, Verworfene Fassung Des Finalsatzes - First, Discarded Version Of The Finale)
String Quintet In C Major, K. 515: Allegro
String Quintet In C Major, K. 515: Andante
String Quintet In C Major, K. 515: Menuetto: Alegretto
String Quintet In C Major, K. 515: Allegro

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:

Quintet/Quartet Cycle Highly Reccommended.......2003-08-09

I reccommend the Naxos Quartet and Quintet cycles to any serious Mozart lover or the average listener who want excellent quality and budget prices.
This recording includes the discarded versions of the Trio and the Finale and gives a beautiful rendition of the C major Quintet

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quintets (K515/516/593/614)

Average customer rating:

Mozart at His Most Robust
excellent

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quintets (K515/516/593/614)

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mozart: The Six 'Haydn' String Quartets

ASIN: B000002ZEB
Release Date: 1996-09-17

Tracks:

String Quintet in C major K515: Allegro
String Quintet in C major K515: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quintet in C major K515: Andante
String Quintet in C major K515: (Allegro)
String Quintet in D major K593: Larghetto - Allegro - Larghetto
String Quintet in D major K593: Adagio
String Quintet in D major K593: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quintet in D major K593: Finale: Allegro

Tracks:

String Quintet in G minor K516: Allegro
String Quintet in G minor K516: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quintet in G minor K516: Adagio ma non troppo
String Quintet in G minor K516: Adagio - Allegro
String Quintet in E flat major K614: Allegro di molto
String Quintet in E flat major K614: Andante
String Quintet in E flat major K614: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quintet in E flat major K614: Finale: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Mozart at His Most Robust.......2007-02-09

The string quintets are not a mere novelty in Mozart's canon. They're major compositions, on the edge of Mozart's harmonic development. You'll hear the future in them, backwards echoes of beethoven and especially Brahms. The Salomon Quartet ranks very high among "historically informed" performers of Mozart. My only gripe is that the earliest quintet, KV 174, isn't included, since it has marvelous passages for viola taking the principal role in the music.

excellent.......2006-11-15

First rate versions of these pieces. Excellent performances and excellent recordings. You won't be disappointed.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quintets

Average customer rating:

A Mozart must have.
Astonishing Music! Very addicting!
Superb!
String Quintets/Grumiaux
Touch of the Master's Hand

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quintets

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mozart: String Quartets (Complete Mozart Edition, Vol. 12)
Mozart: Serenades for Orchestra
Mozart: Complete String Trios & Duos
Mozart: Music for 2 Pianos; Piano Duets
Violin Concertos

ASIN: B00000410S
Release Date: 1991-03-08

Tracks:

String Quintet (No. 1) In B Flat, KV 174: 1: Allegro moderato
String Quintet (No. 1) In B Flat, KV 174: 2: Adagio
String Quintet (No. 1) In B Flat, KV 174: 3: Menuetto ma allegretto
String Quintet (No. 1) In B Flat, KV 174: 4: Allegro
String Quintet (No. 4) In C Minor, KV 406 - 516b: 1: Allegro
String Quintet (No. 4) In C Minor, KV 406 - 516b: 2: Andante
String Quintet (No. 4) In C Minor, KV 406 - 516b: 3: Menuetto in canone
String Quintet (No. 4) In C Minor, KV 406 - 516b: 4: Allegro

Tracks:

String Quintet (No. 2 ) In C, KV 515: 1: Allegro
String Quintet (No. 2 ) In C, KV 515: 2: Andante
String Quintet (No. 2 ) In C, KV 515: 3: Menuetto, Allegretto
String Quintet (No. 2 ) In C, KV 515: 4: Allegro
String Quintet (No. 3) In G Minor, KV 516: 1: Allegro
String Quintet (No. 3) In G Minor, KV 516: 2: Menuetto, Allegretto
String Quintet (No. 3) In G Minor, KV 516: 3: Adagio ma non troppo
String Quintet (No. 3) In G Minor, KV 516: 4: Adagio - Allegro

Tracks:

String Quintet (No. 5) In D , KV 593: 1: Larghetto - Allegro
String Quintet (No. 5) In D , KV 593: 2: Adagio
String Quintet (No. 5) In D , KV 593: 3: Menuetto, Allegretto
String Quintet (No. 5) In D , KV 593: 4: Allegro
String Quintet (No. 6) In E Flat, KV 614: 1: Allegro di molto
String Quintet (No. 6) In E Flat, KV 614: 2: Andante
String Quintet (No. 6) In E Flat, KV 614: 3: Menuetto, Allegretto
String Quintet (No. 6) In E Flat, KV 614: 4: Allegro

Amazon.com essential recording

Arthur Grumiaux's performances of Mozart, whether of the violin concertos, the sonatas, or various chamber pieces with violin, were marked by patrician elegance and an unfailing sense of style. For this 1973 recording of the string quintets, arguably the summit of Mozart's chamber output, Grumiaux surrounded himself with musicians of a similar stripe, and the result remains among the treasures of the catalog. By today's standards, the performances may sound just a bit laid-back and relaxed, but the ensemble is marvelous, and the beauty of tone Grumiaux and company achieved in these readings has rarely been approached on disc since. The analog recording is splendid. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

A Mozart must have........2007-02-17

I love these pieces, and they are played brilliantly on this recording. Grumiaux's tone is absolutely wonderful. The sound of this recording is excellent. I would highly recommend this to any Mozart fan, or any fan of chamber. \m/

Astonishing Music! Very addicting!.......2003-06-14

I bought this wonderful set based on the 11 five-star reviews (at the time). If you think about that, you have an amazing piece of music when you have 11+ reviews with all 5 stars!!
I thank you all, and you were not kidding. This is some of the very best music I have ever heard in my entire life. I still live for many of the String Quartets (currently awaiting the Philips set) that I have collected which floor me, but I must say that the music on this set is just as powerful (as many of you have said) and a MUST HAVE if you an addict like me. There is just nothing on god's green earth that compares to Mozart!
Sometimes just the first few notes can emit that Mozart Effect and you are hooked for life!! Again, my gratitude for the fine information you all have provided in your reviews. It is very valuable to know how people feel before you buy! BRAVO!

Superb!.......2003-01-31

Fantastic to say the least!

A must for any Mozart fanatic.

String Quintets/Grumiaux.......2001-03-17

Absolutely beautiful chamber music. This ensemble's elegance is desperately missing in more contemporary/recent performances. A must have recording, for such sublime music.

Touch of the Master's Hand.......2001-02-28

Being a young musician tackling the c minor quintet in my senior year of high school, you always search for recordings of the masters to hear their interpretations of certain pieces. By an act of the supernatural, I stumbled across this one. Sheer excellence, wonderful phrasing, and awesome lyricism filled the studio when there musicians got together. The chemistry that was between them is definately felt as you listen to these quintets. I am not a big Mozart fan but these quintets are some of his finest works next to his sacred works. Grumiaux was a wonderful violinist and interpreter of the masters. This recording gave me and my quintet wonderful insight and tons of inspiration as to how these pieces should be played. Truly, those pieces were touched by the hands of the masters as they performed and recorded these works.

Average customer rating:

Disappointed...Performances don't plumb the depths

The Complete String Quintets

Manufacturer: Vanguard Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000B1A68
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

Allegro
Menuetto (Allegretto)
Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Adagio - Allegro
Larghetto - Allegro
Adagio
Menuetto (Allegretto)
Allegro
Adagio And Fugue In C Minor, K. 546

Tracks:

Allegro
Andante
Menuetto In Canone
Allegro
Allegro Di Molto
Andante
Menuetto (Allegretto)
Allegro
Allegro
Menuetto
Andante
Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed...Performances don't plumb the depths.......2006-07-22

Some of Mozart's greatest, most profound, most personal writing was for string quintet (just as Beethoven's was for string quartet). Mozart poured his demonic frustration into pieces such as K. 406 and K. 516. The former is almost Beethovenian. The latter is a unique personal swirl of light and darkness, the likes of which he never wrote again. This is essential and special Mozart.

Unfortunately, I can't see I consider these essential and special recordings. In too many of these performances the musicians don't quite give their all. There's nothing outwardly *wrong* with the efforts here, but I've heard better by the Alban Bergs (yes, that's not a typo) and the Melos Quartet, to name just two. Here, I felt the performers didn't take the music as far as it could go, while still remaining true to its classical (or quasi-classical, for these are some of Mozart's most modern and forward-looking creations) nature. Tempi are rather middle-of-the-road. Angles are smoothed over. The five musicians play without a lot of individual personality, but they don't blend with the steely polish of the Bergs either. They indistinctly play very distinctive works.

For K. 516, the best performance I've yet heard was at a live concert at the Mirabel Palace in Salzburg, by the "house band"! They may not have been famous names, but they convinced me with a well-considered interpretations that was lean and brisk and yet had plenty of attention to nuance. They pointed out dips and shapes in the flow of the work that here is just glossed over. Based on just this recording, I had thought I wouldn't like this quintet. Silly me.

I don't have a complete set to recommend in lieu of this one, but the Amadeus Quartet with Cecil Aronowitz on DG is probably worth a listen and the team of Georges Janzer, Max Lesueur, Arpad Gerecz, Arthur Grumiaux and Eva Czako on Philips sounds promising. I'll have to get to them at some point and report back.

Average customer rating:

Mozart: Quintets No4; Quintets No3

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000007IU
Release Date: 1998-01-13

Tracks:

Qnt in C, K.515: allegro
Qnt in C, K.515: andante
Qnt in C, K.515: menuetto. allegretto
Qnt in C, K.515: allegro
Qnt in g, K.516: allegro
Qnt in g, K.516: menuetto. allegretto
Qnt in g, K.516: adagio ma non troppo
Qnt in g, K.516: adagio-allegro

Amazon.com

These period-instrument Mozart performances have been reduced to midprice status, perhaps a reflection of the initial critical reaction to the disc. While "authentic" in their sound and in the pitch to which the instruments are tuned, these performances are so rhythmically oriented, and so unlyrical, that they seem inappropriate for Mozart. This kind of approach might make sense for Bach, but Ensemble 415 seems to have the wrong ideas about Mozart. --Leslie Gerber

Mozart: String Quintets K.515, K.516, K.593, K.614

Average customer rating:

Mozart: String Quintets K.515, K.516, K.593, K.614
W.A. Mozart , and Hausmusik London
Manufacturer: Angel
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000024ZH2
Release Date: 2004-01-06

Music Review: