The Hollywood String Quartet Plays Kodály, Smetana & Dvorák

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Hollywood String Quartet is still revered among many collectors and music lovers for the tonal suavity and urbanity of its performances. Those qualities aren't the best for performances of these Romantic and early 20th-century pieces. In particular, I find the Smetana, a heartbreakingly powerful piece at its best, lacking in passion and much too well-behaved for its own good. Dvořák's popular Quartet comes off better, but the moving Lento slow movement is still too restrained. And the fiery Kodály isn't nearly as exciting as the version by the Kodály Quartet on Hungaroton HCD 12362. I would have placed the Kodály, the only stereo recording, last on this disc instead of first. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Str Qt No.2, Op.10: I. Allegro
Str Qt No.2, Op.10: II. Andante-Allegro Giocoso
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 A La 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.12 in f, Op.96, 'American': I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Str Qt No.12 in f, Op.96, 'American': II. Lento
Str Qt No.12 in f, Op.96, 'American': III. Molto Vivace
Str Qt No.12 in f, Op. 96, 'American': IV. Finale (Vivace Ma Non Troppo)

Amazon.com

The Hollywood String Quartet is still revered among many collectors and music lovers for the tonal suavity and urbanity of its performances. Those qualities aren't the best for performances of these Romantic and early 20th-century pieces. In particular, I find the Smetana, a heartbreakingly powerful piece at its best, lacking in passion and much too well-behaved for its own good. Dvořák's popular Quartet comes off better, but the moving Lento slow movement is still too restrained. And the fiery Kodály isn't nearly as exciting as the version by the Kodály Quartet on Hungaroton HCD 12362. I would have placed the Kodály, the only stereo recording, last on this disc instead of first. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

They're better than good!.......2000-01-25

I don't know who Mr./Ms. Gerber is, but perhaps they are one of those people who want to make a name for themselves by finding flaws in perfection or believe Van Gogh would have been better if he had been able to work in MS Windows Paint Box. That said, let me say these performances are very well-played and the commitment to exemplary music-making is obvious. Perhaps they are a bit restrained at times, but then again, the HSO were "film studio musicians" by trade. They didn't have time for such extemporaneous distractions. As it is, we are indeed lucky the Slatkins and their friends were kind enough to leave us this legacy, without any thought to monetary gain or fame, something that seems to be taken for weakness or a character defect in this post-American century. In addition, when the Pelican Guide to Classical Music on CD and Jim Svejda of The Insider's Guide to Classical Recordings give recordings like these great reviews, YOU KNOW they're better than good.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

Live at the Village Vanguard [Live]

Randy Meisner

Soul 60's

Sings the Winners [Original recording remastered]

Peter Tchaikovsky: Klavierkonzert In B-Flat Minor, Op. 23

Our Last Escape

Relentless

Songs the Lord Taught Us

O Melhor de - Bencao [Import]

Que Viva la Tambora Con los Grandes

Voyage to India

Pops: The 1940's Small-Band Sides