Dvorak: String Quartets

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Another glorious collection of mature Dvorřak String Quartets! Some of composer's early chamber music can ramble on long enough to test a listener's patience. But not these little-known, seldom-played masterpieces, which have melodies, rhythm, and inspiration equal to the one Dvorřak Quartet most music lovers know, the American, Op. 96. This current Vlach Quartet is led by the daugher of the leader of the original ensemble. It plays with beautiful tone, nuance, and a grasp of Dvorřak's style unsurpassed in any other contemporary recordings I have heard. The finales make me want to dance! At this price, investigation of the little-known repertoire is painless. -- Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 'American': I. Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 'American': 2. Lento
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 'American': 3. Molto vivace
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 'American': 4. Finale: Vivace, ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 1 In D Major, Op. 11: 1. moderato e semplice
String Quartet No. 1 In D Major, Op. 11: 2. Andante cantabile
String Quartet No. 1 In D Major, Op. 11: 3. Scherzo: Allegro non tanto -- Trio
String Quartet No. 1 In D Major, Op. 11: 4. Finale: Allegro giusto - Allegro vivace
String Quartet No. 2 In D Major: 1. Allegro moderato
String Quartet No. 2 In D Major: 2. Scherzo: Allegro
String Quartet No. 2 In D Major: 3. Notturno: Andante
String Quartet No. 2 In D Major: 4. Finale: Andante - Vivace

Amazon.com

The Emersons offer one of the very best accounts of the popular American Quartet on disc. It is dramatic, exuberant, persuasive, and right to the point--a well-paced reading full of ravishing details (like the dueting of the violins in the slow movement) that has been beautifully recorded. Originally made for Book-of-the-Month Club in 1984, the recording was later picked up by DG and first released in the U.S. in 1990. For this reissue, it has been coupled with equally well-played accounts of quartets by Borodin and Tchaikovsky, which makes for an especially well-filled CD. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Streamlined from Russia -- not for everyone.......2007-07-01

The string quartets of Dvorak and Borodin are among the lushest and easy-to-listen music in the genre, romanticism for every ear. Because of the hummable tunes in the Borodin 2nd (lifted wholesale to become part of the Broadway musical, Kismet) and the folsy vigor of Dvorak's "American" Quartet #12, most performers emphasize this lushness. Not the Emersons, whose readings here are clean and streamlined. They don't dig deep into the wood the way the Alban berg Qt. do. Their is the patented Emerson virtuosity at work, though, with impeccable intonation and matched timbres.

For me, the effect was refreshing, particularly in the Borodin, which hwere gets a performance that never threatens to become gooey. The Dvorak is a mite too efficient and far removed form its folk inspiration, yet still impressive technically. Its buoyancy creates a great deal of enjoyment. I've never been able to warm up to Tchaikovsky's quartet writing, but here again the Emersons go for clean lines over Russian luxuriousness.

In all, a very appealing CD that groups three favorites in vintage Emerson Qt. performances. Very good sound, too.

What an artificial performance it is!.......2007-02-17

Dvorak is just okay. Not a superior performance to their rivals, but it's just about the average. Nothing special. Nothing to comment.
Tchaikovsky? Again, no noteworthy point to make here.
Borodin? This is certainly one of the poorest performance of this music on the CD that I've ever heard. The problem is the Notturno movent.
here we have something very unpleasant music making here. The Emersons probably think that the movement is to be played with full of emotion and involvement. They may be right. But, playing this popular movement with emotional involvement does not mean that it is to be played very slowly and dully. What are they aiming at? What are they "thinking" when they treat this movement in a totally no-brainer way?

They are probaly perfect in terms of their technical flawless. But I always witness thet they do not seem to have found the way to play certain music. In short words, no attachment, no careful studying of the score, no soul. There only remains an artificial performance of the music. Good pretenders, but single CD from them has never moved me.
Beethoven quartets set was another joke.

Well.... but I cannot live without their Schostakovich. Yes, they are all not that bad anyway.

BTW, if it comes down to Borodin's second quartet, the Cleveland Quartet is my first pick.

Disappointing for the Emerson String Quartet.......2006-07-19

The Emerson String Quartet, no matter what some believe, is technically and artistically one of the best quartets in the world. This album, however, is not one of their best. The playing is somewhat lethargic, and the quartets themselves, while being somewhat popular (particularly the Borodin), are not masterpieces within the genre.

The Dvorak is fine, a 4 star effort. The Tchaikovsky is only average. The Borodin is, well, something else. The Emerson plays it to appeal to a crowd who can only appreciate "pops classical styling."

When listening to the Borodin all I hear is the advertisement for the World's Most Beautiful Music" collection, (just send in your $ for some CD's containing classical music played by various studio orchestras.) This, I find, is perhaps the most distracting aspect of the music. I don't hear the quartet. I hear the advertisement instead. So perhaps I am being unfair to the Emerson String Quartet on this one. It might be the same as thinking about "A Clockwise Orange" when listening to Beethoven's ninth.

But even barring the Borodin, the other two quartets just don't quite measure up to what I expect to hear from this wonderful quartet.

A genuine surprise........2006-03-16

Though I'd heard of Borodin before, I hadn't realized what a wonderful composer he truly was. The second movement of his second quartet is revelatory, and this recording of it (compared to others I've heard since) is definitive for its clarity, tenderness, and directness of expression.

Excellent music, excellent renditions.......2005-06-28

Most people viewing this item probably haven't heard of Borodin before, and I must assure such people that the Borodin quartet on this recording is more than worth listening to! The star of these three compositions is, of course, the American quartet, which is legendary. Though I haven't listened to any other performers playing the quartet, the Emerson Quartet's sound is exquisite, with each detail executed to perfection. You can't expect much else - the Emerson Quartet is always great.

I usually don't like Tchaikovsky, but the quartet on this recording is wonderfully melodic. And together, these three quartets on one CD make for one great purchase.

Great sound, great performance, great music - at a great price. What else could you ask for?

Average customer rating:

Brilliant music, excellent performances
Dvorak
A little cold
Music to get your blood flowing!
The finest readings I have heard of these quartets

Dvorák: The String Quartets

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Schubert: The String Quartets
Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
Antonín Dvorák: Complete Piano Trios
Dvorák: The Symphonies
Haydn: Complete Piano Trios

ASIN: B00002DEH4
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 1 In A Major, Op. 2 B. 2: Andante - Allegro
String Quartet No. 1 In A Major, Op. 2 B. 2: Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato
String Quartet No. 1 In A Major, Op. 2 B. 2: Allegro schezando - trio
Finale - Allegro animato
In A minor: Quartet Movement: Andante appassionato

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 2 In B Flat Major, B. 17: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 2 In B Flat Major, B. 17: Largo
String Quartet No. 2 In B Flat Major, B. 17: Allegro con brio
String Quartet No. 2 In B Flat Major, B. 17: Finale: Andante
2 Waltzes, Op. 54 B. 105: Moderato
2 Waltzes, Op. 54 B. 105: Allegro vivace
String Quartet In F Major, B. 120 (Fragment): Allegro vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, B. 18: Allegro con brio
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, B. 18: Andantino
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, B. 18: Allegro energico - Trio
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, B. 18: Finale: Allegretto

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, B. 19: Velmi pohyblive a razne (Assai con moto ed energico)
String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, B. 19: Andante religioso - attacca
String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, B. 19: Allegro con brio
String Quartet No. 5 In F Minor, Op. 9 B. 37: Moderato
String Quartet No. 5 In F Minor, Op. 9 B. 37: Andante con moto quasi allegretto
String Quartet No. 5 In F Minor, Op. 9 B. 37: Tempo di valse
String Quartet No. 5 In F Minor, Op. 9 B. 37: Finale - Allegro molto

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 6 In A Minor, Op. 12 B. 40: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 6 In A Minor, Op. 12 B. 40: Poco allegro
String Quartet No. 6 In A Minor, Op. 12 B. 40: Poco adagio
String Quartet No. 6 In A Minor, Op. 12 B. 40: Finale - allegro molto
String Quartet No. 7 In A Minor, OP. 16 B. 45: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 7 In A Minor, OP. 16 B. 45: Andante cantabile
String Quartet No. 7 In A Minor, OP. 16 B. 45: Allegro scherzando - Trio
String Quartet No. 7 In A Minor, OP. 16 B. 45: Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 8 In E Major, Op. 80 B. 57: Allegro
String Quartet No. 8 In E Major, Op. 80 B. 57: Andante con moto
String Quartet No. 8 In E Major, Op. 80 B. 57: Allegro scherzando
String Quartet No. 8 In E Major, Op. 80 B. 57: Finale - Allegro con brio
String Quartet No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 34 B.75: Allegro
String Quartet No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 34 B.75: Alla polka: Allgretto scherzando - Trio: quasi l'istesso temo
String Quartet No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 34 B.75: Adagio
String Quartet No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 34 B.75: Finale - Poco allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 B. 92: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 B. 92: Dumka (Elegia): Andante con moto - Vivace
String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 B. 92: Romanza: Andante con moto
String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 B. 92: Finale - Allegro assai
String Quartet No. 11 In C Major, Op. 61 B. 121: Allegro
String Quartet No. 11 In C Major, Op. 61 B. 121: Poco adagio e molto cantabile
String Quartet No. 11 In C Major, Op. 61 B. 121: Scherzo: Allegro vivo - Trio: L'istess tempo
String Quartet No. 11 In C Major, Op. 61 B. 121: Finale - Vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 B. 179: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 B. 179: Lento
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 B. 179: Molto vivace
String Quartet No. 12 In F Major, Op. 96 B. 179: Finale: Vivace ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op.106 B. 192: Allegro moderato
String Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op.106 B. 192: Adagio ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op.106 B. 192: Molto vivace
String Quartet No. 13 In G Major, Op.106 B. 192: Finale: Andante sostenuto - Allegro con fuoco

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major, Op. 105 No. 193: Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro appassionato
String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major, Op. 105 No. 193: Molto vivance
String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major, Op. 105 No. 193: Lento e molto cantabile
String Quartet No. 14 In A Flat Major, Op. 105 No. 193: Allegro non tanto
Cypresses, B. 152: Moderato
Cypresses, B. 152: Allegro ma non troppo
Cypresses, B. 152: Andante con moto
Cypresses, B. 152: Poco Adagio
Cypresses, B. 152: Andante
Cypresses, B. 152: Andante moderato
Cypresses, B. 152: Andante con moto
Cypresses, B. 152: Lento
Cypresses, B. 152: Moderato
Cypresses, B. 152: Andante maestoso
Cypresses, B. 152: Allegro scherzando
Cypresses, B. 152: Allegro animato

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant music, excellent performances.......2006-10-11

I must admit up front that when it comes to classic music, I prefer chamber music (any era or style). If you like chamber music, buy this set. If you are are curious about chamber music and Dvorak's work, buy a budget single CD of any Dvorak string quartets. When you've fallen in love with Dvorak's work --- and you will --- then buy this set.

These are simply some of the finest string quartets ever written. Lyrical and inventive, they will make you understand why Brahms and Dvorak were such good friends and admired each other's work so much. There are other recordings out there of various quartets, particularly the late ones. But the value in having a complete set is that you get to hear the composer's development, and you get to hear infrequently played yet brilliant works. A good example is the Quartet No. 5, which is intense --- as full of bite as, say, "Death and the Maiden," yet as richly melodic as anything Dvorak ever wrote. The recording is clean and warm, the playing precise yet soulful. The set is now selling for about $12 more than I paid for it, but it's still a bargain. You will never regret having bought it.

Dvorak.......2006-05-16

One of the best composers for chamber music together with Joseph Haydyn, I think. Thank you.

A little cold.......2006-01-16

Compaired to the Vlach on Naxos, this exelent recording left me a little cold. Where is all the emotion that these quartet's should have.

Music to get your blood flowing!.......2005-11-24

Wow! Great quartets played with real gusto and dynamism by the Prager String Quartet. The sound is incredibly crisp and clear. The performances are impeccable. You won't be disappointed!

The finest readings I have heard of these quartets.......2005-11-04

I have heard multiple recordings of these quartets, including the Chiligirian quartet, and selections by the Amadeus quartet, Hagen quartet, Melos quartet, Vlach quartet and Cleveland quartet. However, these renditions are (in my opinion) the most adherent to the Czech folk roots. I'm sure it helps that the ensemble is in fact Czech-for that reason they seem to have an edge over some of the other notable groups which have made recordings. Everyone has obviously heard the American quartet, but just as fine are quartets 10,11, 13 and 14 (as well as 7-9). I am less entranced by the early works, but they are not without their merit as well.
Overall, the sound seems a bit better in this re-release than in the previous version available on CD. Not much better, but better. And at this price, it is an absolute steal. Highly recommended for lovers of chamber music, or Dvorak in general.

Average customer rating:

A well chosen album title
Happy Birthday by Gidon Kremer
A perfect birthday gift
Jest with Zest
I want to play the variations myself!

Happy Birthday
Gidon Kremer , and Kremerata Baltica
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Kremerland
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ASIN: B00006JP2B
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

Polka
Thema
Variation Nach Joseph Haydn
Variation Nach Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Variation Nach Ludwig Van Beethoven
Variation Nach Johannes Brahms
Variation Nach Robert Schumann
Variation Nach Antonin Dvorak
Polka/Valse
Variation Im Stil Von Filmmusik
Ragtime
Tango
Czardas
Adagio
Allegretto
Ad Libitum
Allegro. Presto
Variations Brillantes Et Concertantes Sur L'air 'God Save The King,' Op.38
Elegy
McMozart's Eine Kleine Bricht Moonlicht Nicht Musik
I. Eine Kleine Nichtmusik
II. Moonlight Concerto
III. Chaconne A Son Gout
IV. Hommage To Shostakofiev
Souvenir

Amazon.com

To celebrate its sixth anniversary as an ensemble, Kremerata Baltica presents a light, loving, and musically interesting confection. After an opening polka by Schnittke (who knew he could be so frothy?), we get 11 variations on the song "Happy Birthday" by Peter Heidrich, à la Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms, and some dance movements. Delightful. Elsewhere, Franz Waxman's Variations on "Auld lang syne" are as clever as they are unexpected and charming. More variations--this time on "God save the King" by the 19th century composers Ghys and Servais--afford Kremer and cellist Marta Sudraba a fine time, and Teddy Bor's brief riff on Mozart's omnipresent "Eine kleine nachtmusik" is a hoot. There's more, but the point is made: Classical music can be fun and sophisticated, and Kremer and his group remain virtuosi, one and all. --Robert Levine

Album Description

These young Baltic musicians possess a vivid spectrum of string color, thoroughly polished execution, and a direction of effort in service to the composer... There is no violinist with greater versatility and commitment to musical truth than Kremer. Slipcase. Nonesuch. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

A well chosen album title.......2007-01-10

I was desperately looking through the internet for a tango "happy birthday" and the tune was there, in this album. After I purchased the cd, I read the booklet included and there I found mentioned that "the album's title is not merely a reference to the popular tune, but a celebration of the ensemble's anniversary". So, I was happy to have finally found a tango "happy birthday" but I was also disappointed because this was not the playful album I was looking forward to listen to.
But this is a bit unfair for this excellent orchestra.
If what you are looking for is innovations on the romantic classicals... well this could be it. The point is that this is an album for listeners who know their way into classical music.
Other than that I should suggest that innovation regarding any classical music "playful" album would be to capture the listener's interest with more daring ways than that.

Happy Birthday by Gidon Kremer.......2007-01-09

This is a nice "classic" touch for any birthday celebration--great musical treatment of a most familiar tune!

A perfect birthday gift.......2006-01-26

I bought it out of my own devotion to Gidon Kremer and another one for a food friend's birthday. Kremer never let me down. This is another outstanding CD and a perfect birthday gift, even for non-classical lovers. However, to be very honest, I am not totally satisfied with all the tracks but still it's highly recommended. I would say it is an almost-must-have for your CD shelf. The variation of the traditional 'Happy Birthday' is fantastic if not too commercial.

Jest with Zest.......2005-11-26

If you enjoy parodies, this will be the perfect album for you. The jokes played on the various composers are amusing and refreshing, especially for music students who bore their brains out analysing these composers. Take a fresh view and enjoy! Even though they may seem meaningless initially, they grow onto you soon enough; and you will start asking - why not?

I want to play the variations myself!.......2004-07-22

My God...I will be too grateful to anyone who can show me where I can get the printed music of the "Happy Birthday" variation ....

Dvorák: String Quartets No. 10, Op. 51; No. 14, Op. 105

Average customer rating:

One of the Most Beautiful Chamber Music Recordings
One of the Most Beautiful Chamber Music Recordings
Doesn't get much better

Dvorák: String Quartets No. 10, Op. 51; No. 14, Op. 105

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Dvorák: String Quartets Opp. 96 "American" and 106
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ASIN: B0000014DK
Release Date: 1997-04-08

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 : Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 : Dumka (Elegia): Andante con moto- Vivace
String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 : Romanza: Andante con moto
String Quartet No. 10 In E Flat Major, Op. 51 : Finale: Allegro assai
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

Amazon.com

These Dvorřak Quartets are heard a little more frequently than most of the others. The composer's two last quartets, Opp. 105 and 106, are somewhat more serious in tone than most of the earlier ones. But they still have those gorgeous melodies, dance rhythms, and a sense of going somewhere at their own pace. Op. 51, composed right in the middle of Dvorřak's career, has more youthful fervor. If you've heard any of the discs in this series, you won't need any prompting to keep on buying them, since the music, stylish performances, and recording are all so excellent. If not, though, don't be afraid; they're a very cheap addiction. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

One of the Most Beautiful Chamber Music Recordings.......2000-08-08

The series of recordings of Dvorák's chamber music by the Vlach Quartet of Prague has been outstanding. Not only are the performances first class but the recording quality is excellent. This recording of Quartets nos. 10 and 14 has to be the cream of them all.

From the very first rocking notes of no. 10, op 51, it is evident this is going to be a world class performance. The opening Allegro ma non troppo is unforgettable, as the previous reviewer remarked. The richness of the sound, and the range of the interpretation from delicate to dramatic, are remarkable. The second movement, the Dumka, is done to perfection. The Andante relaxed and sensuous. The generally lively last movement has many varied moods, from lyrical to rough and tumble. It's a most wonderful performance in every way, an absolute delight.

No. 14, Op. 105 starts off as an adagio, but shortly reaches the main allegro theme, very memorably performed. The molto vivace, which at times is quite by slow and lyrical, is nicley pointed. The lento is exceedingly beautiful, played with great feeling. The final allegro is given a nice lilt, alternating with a fine lyricism. This is a really outstanding playing, most enjoyable.

All in all, this is simply one of the finest chamber music recordings I have ever heard.

One of the Most Beautiful Chamber Music Recordings.......2000-08-08

All in all, this is simply one of the finest chamber music recordings I have ever heard.

Doesn't get much better.......2000-06-19

This is one of the Naxos-recordings where you won't have to worry about the quality. It's first class playing as well as good sound.

The Vlach Quartet Prague offers great nerve and intensity as well as beauty to both of these lovely quartets, not beaten by any other recording, although there are others that are just as good (listen to the DG Dvorak-series for example). But at this price it's unbeaten.

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:

Piano Quartet In D Major, Op. 23: Allegro moderato
Piano Quartet In D Major, Op. 23: Theme (Andantino) And Variations
Piano Quartet In D Major, Op. 23: Finale: Allegretto scherzando
Piano Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 87: Allegro con fuoco
Piano Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 87: Lento
Piano Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 87: Allegro moderato grazioso
Piano Quartet In E-Flat Major, Op. 87: Finale: Allegro ma non troppo

Customer Reviews:

STAT FORTUNA DOMUS.......2004-10-10

This disc has exactly the virtues, and the other characteristics, that I found on the much-lauded Domus set of Faure's piano quartets. For me Domus are good, but slightly unremarkable, executants. Where they excel is in musical insight, both spiritual and intellectual. The challenge posed by Dvorak's piano quartets seems to me to be of a rather different kind from Faure's. Faure's quartets are music of the very highest quality, his idiom is not one that just every interpreter can get the hang of, and the technical difficulty of his writing, which is often a lot greater than it sounds, must on no account be made apparent to the listener. With Dvorak the musical idiom is thoroughly familiar. The real trick is to make the music sound at its best all the way through, something the composer himself has not always bothered to do.

It used to be fashionable to level at Mendelssohn a charge of being at times facile. There is some truth in the allegation I would say, although it lost nothing in the telling by, say, Tovey. It is a charge that I would say is a lot more true of Dvorak. His best is so superlatively good that I find I almost resent the way he trivialises his own genius, getting by on his easy melodic gift, his acute sense of instrumental tone and his undoubted and almost unfailing charm, together with a slightly reach-me-down Czechery that I find palls on me rather quickly. It is surely to the credit of the performers here that the D major quartet comes across so successfully and consistently as the fine composition that it partly is. The relaxed easy-going charm is never allowed to deteriorate into cuteness, the momentum is maintained with great tact and skill, and any sense of self-consciousness in the more `nationalist' elements of the idiom is adroitly minimised. The E flat quartet is an altogether more formidable composition. Its slow movement in particular finds the composer at his most serious and impressive, but the work throughout shows Dvorak at something close to his very best, outstandingly original in many ways (notably in the third movement) and never falling into either prolixity or formulaic attractiveness.

It feels grudging and ungenerous not to give a fifth star to this disc, but the reason why not is compelling. The performance that I own of Dvorak's piano quintet, with Curzon taking the piano part, is on another plane of beauty altogether. This disc is one I thoroughly and sincerely commend, but no honest reviewer should put it in the same bracket as that.

Treat yourself. From G. A. Monroe,.......2001-10-16

The compositions are masterpieces of lyricism and bohemian harmony. The performers are nimble, sensitive virtuosi and in my opinion the very best on record in this genre. Get to know this disc and the pieces will haunt you, in a happy way, from year to year. A desert-island disc if ever there was one. Domus, please re-unite and do a concert tour! (See also: Faure, Piano Quartets nos. 1 and 2, Domus on Hyperion.)

Must-have CD for Dvorak chamber music collectors.......2000-07-12

Dvorak's First Piano Quartet in D major is a somewhat rarefied and elegant three-movement work with an engaging Schubertian feel to it. All three movements are ruminative and expound on relatively lightweight material, to delightful effect. The middle movement even consists of a theme and variations. The last movement is quite elegant, almost danceable. The four-movement Second Piano Quartet is more high-powered and thematically dense. Whereas the First Quartet is dreamy in a Schubertian kind of way, the Second is more Beethovenian but not without a certain Schubertian homage in the Allegro moderato grazioso (third) movement. This work is undoubtedly a masterpiece. The Domus do both works full justice. There is nothing forced about the way they approach the music. Their playing is completely natural and sensitive in a way that never draws attention to itself, as is the Hyperion recording.

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous Playing
Melancholy and Lyrical

Dvorak: String Quartets 11 & 8

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Dvorák: String Quartets No. 10, Op. 51; No. 14, Op. 105
Dvorák: String Quartets Vol. 6
Dvorák: String Quartets Opp. 96 "American" and 106
Dvorak: String Quartet No. 9 in D minor/Terzetto Op. 74
Dvorak: String Quintets Op. 1 & 97

ASIN: B00000147R
Release Date: 1996-06-18

Tracks:

Str Qt No.11in C,Op. 61: Allegro
Str Qt No.11in C,Op. 61: Poco Adagio E Molto Cantabile
Str Qt No.11in C,Op. 61: Scherzo: Allegro Vivo
Str Qt No.11 in C,Op. 61: Finale: Vivace
Str Qt No. 8 in E, Op. 80: Allegro
Str Qt No. 8 in E, Op. 80: Andante Con Motto
Str Qt No. 8 in E, Op. 80: Allegro Scherzando
Str Qt No. 8 in E, Op. 80: Finale: Allegro Con Brio

Amazon.com

Another glorious collection of mature Dvorřak String Quartets! Some of composer's early chamber music can ramble on long enough to test a listener's patience. But not these little-known, seldom-played masterpieces, which have melodies, rhythm, and inspiration equal to the one Dvorřak Quartet most music lovers know, the American, Op. 96. This current Vlach Quartet is led by the daugher of the leader of the original ensemble. It plays with beautiful tone, nuance, and a grasp of Dvorřak's style unsurpassed in any other contemporary recordings I have heard. The finales make me want to dance! At this price, investigation of the little-known repertoire is painless. -- Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous Playing.......2000-08-08

The new Vlach Quartet's series of Dvorák's music for string quartet has been a resounding success. These works, Opp. 80 and 61 are not as well-known as the American Quartet, Op. 96, but they are well worth hearing. As with the rest of the series, the sound quality is excellent.

Quartet no. 8, Op. 80, is a very nice work, but is not as structurally strong. At some points, it needs some romantic interpretation, and with the Vlach Quartet, you will never know the joints are there. Their playing is beautiful and interesting throughout.

Though written in 1876, op. 80 was revised in 1888, which is probably why it has the later opus number than op. 61, finished in 1881.

Quartet no. 11, Op. 61, which actually appears first on the disc, is sheerly beautiful from beginnning to end. I cannot imagine how anyone could play it better than the Vlach Quartet does here. The second movement, Poco adagio e molto cantibile, is particularly beautifully done. Fast or slow, lyrical or dramatic, the Vlach Quartet always catches the mood perfectly. While the music is not as great as Dvorák's last three quartets, Op. 61 is a very fine work.

This is a lovely disc, and for those interested in the repertoire, I highly recommend it.

Melancholy and Lyrical.......2000-07-04

Dvorák wrote tons of great chamber music, and as an amateur violinist myself, I would love to see his lesser-known works get more popular exposure. His string quartet number 8 is especially haunting. Melancholy and lyrical, I thought it had some of the same feel as his Slavonic Dances, on a quieter scale. Number 11 is more ``conventional'', and to me less memorable, though still interesting.

Tracks:

Streichquartett c-moll, Op. 51 No. 1: Allegro
Streichquartett c-moll, Op. 51 No. 1: Romanze. Poco Adagio
Streichquartett c-moll, Op. 51 No. 1: Allegretto molto moderato e comodo - Un poco piu animato
Streichquartett c-moll, Op. 51 No. 1: Allegro
Streichquartett a-moll, Op. 51 No. 2: Allegro non troppo
Streichquartett a-moll, Op. 51 No. 2: Andante moderato
Streichquartett a-moll, Op. 51 No. 2: Quasi Minuetto, moderato - Allegreto vivace
Streichquartett a-moll, Op. 51 No. 2: Finale. Allegro non assai

Tracks:

Streichquartett B-dur, Op. 67: Vivace
Streichquartett B-dur, Op. 67: Andante
Streichquartett B-dur, Op. 67: Agitato (Allegretto non troppo)
Streichquartett B-dur, Op. 67: Poco Allegretto con Variazioni
Streichquartett F-dur, Op. 67 - Amerikanisches Quartett: Allegro ma non troppo
Streichquartett F-dur, Op. 67 - Amerikanisches Quartett: Lento
Streichquartett F-dur, Op. 67 - Amerikanisches Quartett: Molto vivace
Streichquartett F-dur, Op. 67 - Amerikanisches Quartett: Finale. Vivace, ma non troppo

Amazon.com

Brahms reportedly destroyed more string quartets than he actually published, and it's not surprising. Aside from being even more intimidated by Beethoven's quartets than he was by Beethoven's symphonies, he was extremely self-critical, and much more comfortable writing chamber music which featured his own instrument--the piano. The Amadeus String Quartet was the outstanding British chamber group from the late 1950s through the early 1970s, and they excelled in performances of the standard Viennese classical repertoire. Their Brahms is a particularly fine example of their artistry, and Dvorák's The American Quartet makes an appealing bonus. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

WELCOME BACK.......2004-07-05

There is no Amadeus Quartet any more, so this reissue is welcome for that reason alone. At the outset I ought to say that they omit the first movement repeats in all four works. This is a matter of indifference to me, but some may wish to read no further.

Apart from the historical significance of this set, I needed a cd successor to my revered Allegri LP of the opus 51 quartets, and the Allegri version does not seem to be currently available. I would have been surprised if there had been a clear-cut issue of merit between two such eminent ensembles, and as I expected the merits are finely balanced. The Amadeus seem to me to have the edge in the C minor, the Allegri remain more to my liking in the A minor. Where the Amadeus score in the C minor is mainly in the extraordinary third movement. With the exposition repeat omitted in the first movement, this is actually the longest movement of the four. It is a particularly difficult movement to bring off sucessfully. The two simultaneous melodies at the outset are the biggest test. For me they should be almost equally prominent, with a very slight bias in favour of the upper theme. The tempo is hard to judge too, and the slower Amadeus speed gets it right for me. I also need to hear a twanging quality to the tone of the accompaniment in the trio section, much as the Amadeus do it, and they round the movement off with cleaner ensemble on the final pizzicato chord. There is less to choose in the other movements, but again I got more emotional kick out of the Amadeus in the celestial Romanze, particularly the climactic phrase of the main melody, with its clear reminiscence of the same point in the Cavatina of Beethoven's opus 130. Neither gets the last ounce of eloquence out of it - in my ideal performance it has me gripping the sides of my chair - but it has been many years since I heard it done to my complete satisfaction.

In the A minor the Amadeus could have done with taking the first and second movements, particularly the second, a little faster. The Allegri are somewhere near perfect for me in these. The `andante moderato' needs to be taken at a fairly brisk walking pace to make the maximum effect, and incidentally to show how it inspired the middle movement of Elgar's quartet, and I hope someday to see a cd reissue of the Claremont performance of that. In the B flat quartet the Amadeus are excellent without erasing my recollections of a superlative version by the Budapest Quartet that I no longer own. There is an obvious suggestion of Haydn in the first movement that everyone seems to have noticed, and an equally obvious suggestion of Mendelssohn in the second that nobody seems to talk about, and I hear both clearly in this account. The last movement gives me a slight problem that I sometimes have with the Amadeus - the phrasing, particularly Brainin's phrasing, is a bit affected. With artists of this eminence one often has to take stylistic features not completely to one's liking as part of the whole deal. Dvorak's opus 96 is a work about which I am less than passionate. It is very well done indeed, I compared it with my other cd version by the Moyzes group, and I found little or nothing to choose.

The liner note by John Warrack exasperated me by its conventional and, I believe, wrong-headed thinking. As usual, we are told about some supposed influence of Beethoven in the first movement of the C minor. Part of Brahms's complex mental and musical makeup was a fondness for playing subtle little games with reminiscences of his predecessors, all a feature of his conscious role as the custodian of the great German musical tradition. However the influence of Beethoven generally on him was far less than that of Bach or Schubert, the influence of Beethoven on this particular movement seems to me to be precisely nil, and overall I believe that anyone who tries to listen to Brahms with ears attuned to Beethoven will never understand him at all. He was a different musical animal entirely. The re-engineered recording is very good in its way, but for me it has a slightly artificial effect. 5 stars? Just about. At this level of interpretation one can afford to be finicky, and there is going to be nothing more now from the Amadeus.

Brilliant, Faithfully Rendered.......2004-04-21

This is yet another set of Brahms String Quartets for my collection. I cannot say it is the best or definitive but it is very, very good and has that "old world" flavor, transporting one to the Romanticism of the late 19th Century when kings and queens still ruled and everyone knew their status. I have often wondered how Brahms or Schumann or Dvorak would have reacted in the ideologically-charged atmosphere that permeates today's art world.

These works, which were rewritten over and over in Brahms's usual obsessive, secret manner are great renderings, dynamics perfect, a very faithful translation of the sheet music. Sonorities rise and fall and the quirky rhythms and constant surprises that are the hallmark of Brahms are handled superbly. There was no clear standout though the first two were simply ravishing.

The Dvorak, a fellow middle European, also worked wonders with chamber music and this quartet demonstrates both his musical and artistic genius. The rendering is simultaneously brilliant yet, in some small degree, "safe". The ensemble never strays into alien territory, prefering to present the music as it was written without a lot of hoopla. Great recording.

Beautiful Brahms, Delightful Dvorak.......2001-04-21

This DG Originals two-fer coupling Brahms' String Quartets and Dvorak's "American" Quartet, performed by the Amadeus Quartet, is simply wonderful. First off, while all of the discs in the DG Originals series feature esteemed, if not legendary performances, most of them, because of the CD's time constraints, only offer 3/4 of the performances from their original (two) vinyl counterparts. This is not the case here -- disc one featuring the two-part Op. 51 (No. 1 in C minor and No.2 in A minor) is the same as its original LP release from 1960, and the same for disc two, which couples Brahms' Op. 67 and Dvorak's Op. 96. To me, this is significant because while I love getting as much music as possible for my money, sometimes when too many pieces are collected together on a single disc, overall it doesn't flow well. But with these two Amadeus discs, I often find myself putting them on individually, particularly disc two -- it is incredible how well the third Brahms Quartet goes with the Dvorak "American." The performances by the Amadeus Quartet are outstanding, though I must admit in the case of the Brahms pieces I have nothing to compare them to at the time of this writing. This was however, my third version of the "American" -- the other two being the Juilliard version on Sony Essential Classics and the Prague S.Q. performance on the DG boxed set -- and the Amadeus Quartet's recording is every bit the equal of the other two, and yet it has a personality all its own. In all, these are classic performances, and an exceptional value too at mid-price.

Smetana: The Two String Quartets; Dvorák: Romance, Op. 9; Two Waltzes, Op. 54

Average customer rating:

Essential Recording

Smetana: The Two String Quartets; Dvorák: Romance, Op. 9; Two Waltzes, Op. 54

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

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Albéniz: Iberia; Granados: Goyescas
Boccherini: Quintets For Guitar And Strings
Smetana: Má Vlast
Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet
Shostakovich: The String Quartets

ASIN: B0000030ST
Release Date: 1993-12-16

Tracks:

Str Qt No.1 in e, 'From My Life': I. Allegro Vivo Appassionato
Str Qt No.1 in e, 'From My Life': II. Allegro Moderato Alla Polka
Str Qt No.1 in e, 'From My Life': III. Largo Sostenuto
Str Qt No.1 in e, 'From My Life': IV. Vivace
Str Qt No.2 in d: I. Allegro - Lindsay Str Qt L
Str Qt No.2 in d: II. Allegro Moderato-Andante Cantabile
Str Qt No.2 in d: III. Allegro Non Piu Moderato, Ma Agitato E Con Fuoco
Str Qt No.2 in d: IV. Finale: Presto-Allegro-Moderato Allegro-Con Fuoco
Romance: Andante Con Moto Quasi Allegretto-2nd Movement From Str Qt No.5 in f, Op.9
Two Waltzes: No.1 in A, Op.54 No.1-Moderato
Two Waltzes: No.2 in D, Op.54 No.4-Allegro Vivace

Customer Reviews:

Essential Recording.......2005-09-06

The Lindsays are not as well known in the US as in Europe. They are one of the best String Quartets ever! Comparable to Busch,Vegh,Hungarian and Amadeus. Their ensemble is impeccable and ALL their recordings are worth every cent!

This one in particular has been a favorite for many years and anyone thinking of the Smetana Quartets should not hesitate. This is one of their series of "Bohemian" Quartets and all of them are 5 stars.

They have now retired and their like is not playing anymore.

Get any of their CD's ( and the Beethoven is especially fine) and I assure you, you will not regret it!

Dvorak: String Quartets No. 10 & 14/ Alban Berg Quartet

Average customer rating:

perfect perfomance, perfect recording

Dvorak: String Quartets No. 10 & 14/ Alban Berg Quartet
Antonin Dvorak , and Alban Berg Quartett
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004W478
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

I: Allegro Non Troppo
II: Dumka (Elegia). Andante Con Moto - Vivace
III: Romanze. Andante Con Moto
IV: Allegro Assai
I: Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Allegro Appassionato
II: Molto Vivace
III: Lento E Molto Cantabile
IV: Allegro Non Tanto

Customer Reviews:

perfect perfomance, perfect recording.......2001-08-04

And some people won't like that. The Penguin CD guide routinely complains that the Berg quartet's recordings of the standard literature are too perfect, insufficiently gritty, insufficiently unusual. To my mind, however, that is what allows me to listen to their recordings over and over again with pleasure, when another group's idiosyncracies -- exciting at first -- would have palled.

This is a recording of two Dvorak quartets that are slightly less well known than the ubiquitous F-major "American". The second quartet on the disk (Op. 105 in Ab) is particularly uncommon. Both are given splendid performances, nicely recorded. Everything is right -- passion, sweetness that never overdoes itself, technique, ensemble. An excellent disk.

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