I don't know these works at all. :-[
2 questions:
1. How good are they?
2. What are some good recordings?
Quote from: Spitvalve on June 25, 2009, 12:46:53 AM
1. How good are they?
Some of the finest romantic quartets.
Quote from: Spitvalve on June 25, 2009, 12:46:53 AM
2. What are some good recordings?
Zehetmair Quartet on ECM (1st and 3rd quartets), Hagen Quartet on DG (two separate discs with piano quintet). If you want all three on single disc Eroica on HM is pretty good, though I'm not too keen on their 3rd.
Quote from: Spitvalve on June 25, 2009, 12:46:53 AM
I don't know these works at all. :-[
Me neither. I await the recommendations of those who have. Looks like Drasko's already posted some. :)
I have them with the French quartet Via Nova, as part of this set:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417WPA4RQ5L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
I second Drasko's appraisal.
Fine Arts Quartet on Naxos, I highly recommend it! Also, the St. Lawrence Qt. has a great recording of # 1 and # 3.
The three op 41 string quartets are the best quartets between Schubert and Brahms (and I like 'em better than Schubert), same way that Schumann's symphonies are the best between Beethoven and Brahms.
I checked and I'm appalled how hard it is to get hold of these works on cd. Even the Zehetmair which was released only yesterday (to much acclaim) seems to be OP already.
Quote from: Herman on June 25, 2009, 04:23:42 AM
The three op 41 string quartets are the best quartets between Schubert and Brahms (and I like 'em better than Schubert), same way that Schumann's symphonies are the best between Beethoven and Brahms.
I checked and I'm appalled how hard it is to get hold of these works on cd. Even the Zehetmair which was released only yesterday (to much acclaim) seems to be OP already.
Agreed. I only have 1 2/3 cycles: the Melos (on a DG triple with all 3 Brahms), and the St. Lawrence with #1 & 3. They are wonderful works, and justly deserving of wider exposure. :)
8)
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on June 25, 2009, 04:28:22 AM
Agreed. I only have 1 2/3 cycles: the Melos (on a DG triple with all 3 Brahms), and the St. Lawrence with #1 & 3. They are wonderful works, and justly deserving of wider exposure. :)
8)
I agree with Herman and Gurn. There are a lot of # 1 and # 3 recordings, but not so many record # 2.
Can any1 opine on the Cherubini Quartet? I ask because this is an EMI Gemini release and appears to be easily available.
Quote from: ChamberNut on June 25, 2009, 03:40:54 AM
Fine Arts Quartet on Naxos, I highly recommend it! Also, the St. Lawrence Qt. has a great recording of # 1 and # 3.
I have just one dics w/ all three, the
Fine Arts Quartet on Naxos mentioned by
Ray - probably culled over the years and cannot remember the others I may have owned - excellent review by Scott Morrison HERE (http://www.amazon.com/Schumann-String-Quartets-Nos-1-3/dp/B000JVSVF6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1245933507&sr=1-1), for those interested; but I'm looking forward to some more recent recommendations - could easily add another set! :)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mV%2B66ogOL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Quote from: Herman on June 25, 2009, 04:23:42 AM
Even the Zehetmair which was released only yesterday (to much acclaim) seems to be OP already.
Did you misspell it?
http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product//ECM4721692.htm
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/ECM/4721692
http://www.europadisc.co.uk/classical/30967/Schumann_-_String_Quartets.htm
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=70708&name_role1=4&bcorder=4&name_id=10915&name_role=1
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=5534004&style=classical
http://www.amazon.com/Schumann-String-Quartets-1-3/dp/B00007M846
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schumann-String-Quartet-Nos-3/dp/B00007M846
http://www.amazon.fr/Schumann-Quatuors-cordes-op-41/dp/B00007M846
http://www.amazon.de/Streichquartette-Zehetmair-Quartett/dp/B00007M846
http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/722875
Hagens are difficult to find, especially disc with 2nd and 3rd, but that's general problem with DG distrubution of Hagen Quartett
I suspect the fallacy that Schumann could not write for strings is still holding these works back.
I have the Hagen cd's, and they're very exciting, but I cannot help but think they rock too hard, as they do in other composers.
I have the Vogler Qt on RCA split with Johannes B., also long gone.
I have an excellent Orfeo cd with the Koeckert Qt performing nr 2 between Mendelssohn nr 1 and Smetana nr 1
I have the Orlando Qt (long gone) coupling Schumann nr 1 with Grieg
I used to have the Eroica bu I just cannot abide those HIP inflections.
I'ld love to hear the Juilliard doing these, they recorded all three, but haven't made it to CD...
Quote from: Peregrine on June 25, 2009, 08:05:51 AM
I'ld love to hear the Juilliard doing these, they recorded all three, but haven't made it to CD...
Something did make to CD (are those the same recordings as Columbia LPs?), but it's Doremi, so sound is likely to be horrible.
(http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/Large/88/925788.jpg) =[or not] (http://www.discogs.com/image/R-1810878-1244849245.jpeg)
Quote from: Drasko on June 25, 2009, 08:23:23 AM
Something did make to CD (are those the same recordings as Columbia LPs?), but it's Doremi, so sound is likely to be horrible.
Indeed. They should be called Woe
ismi. ::)
Quote from: Drasko on June 25, 2009, 08:23:23 AM
Something did make to CD (are those the same recordings as Columbia LPs?)
I don't think so
and they are Doremi... :-\
Quote from: Peregrine on June 25, 2009, 10:12:02 AM
I don't think so and they are Doremi... :-\
No one at rmcr has made a needledrop of the LPs, huh?
Is No.2 sooo long it won't fit on a cd??? $:)
Zehetmair is beautifully nuanced. These SQs need the best sound and performance. The ECM "feels" special.
I also like these better than Schubert... Schumann's drama is a little more introvert. I thought I wasn't going to like these SQs, but I was quite surprised. They are quite dark, perfectly put together, with many beautiful and searching moments.
Quote from: George on June 25, 2009, 10:19:19 AM
No one at rmcr has made a needledrop of the LPs, huh?
I'm on the case, actually ;)
While preparing dinner I listened to a couple Schumann 41/2s.
Truns out the Vogler just doesn't cut it. This is pretty heady stuff technically, and the Hagens are much better. They also take slower tempi.
Interestingly the old Koeckert Qt play the best 41/2 of these three, and this is a live recording.
Why is No.2 neglected?
All Schumann's quartets are, to a degree, neglected. You just happen to have the Zehetmair cd which does 1 and 3. I don't think there's anything to it.
Quote from: Drasko on June 25, 2009, 01:17:14 AM
If you want all three on single disc Eroica on HM is pretty good, though I'm not too keen on their 3rd.
Did some listening and actually the plodding 3rd I had in mind isn't Eroica but Quatuor Ysaye (on Aeon) which I almost completely forgot having. They also couple all three quartets on same disc, but I can find anything particularly interesting about their takes. Definitely forgettable.
Quote from: Peregrine on June 25, 2009, 10:12:02 AM
I don't think so and they are Doremi... :-\
Yes, I think you're right. Columbia LPs should be studio recordings.
His chamber works are relatively inspired but his use of form is pretty uninteresting, often downright pedestrian. They are not bad by any means but they are not as good as his piano works or his lieder.
Quote from: Drasko on June 26, 2009, 06:26:56 AM
Did some listening and actually the plodding 3rd I had in mind isn't Eroica but Quatuor Ysaye (on Aeon) which I almost completely forgot having. They also couple all three quartets on same disc, but I can find anything particularly interesting about their takes. Definitely forgettable.
That's the recording I have, since I haven't heard any others (excepting the bland Cherubini Q) I have no point of reference. Excepting the overpriced Juilliard Q recording I don't think there are any stellar ensembles on an in print cd that make it worth exploring other recordings.
Quartetto Italiano are good. Their site says it exists as CD but I have never seen it anywhere. They are rugged, Melos is sober, Capet is full of tremolos (Biddulph)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51rW%2BFb%2BFUL._SS425.jpg)
Looks like I've found my go-to recording of Schumann's quartets. It's not like the other three versions I've heard this year were bad, it's just that this has everything. Playing is well-nigh flawless. Ensemble is impeccable. Intonation, too. Fast and vibrant passages are fast and fast and vibrant, slow passages perfectly paced and lovely. The music is played in a romantic but not overdone manner. Vibrato is used the way I like it. And sound is basically SOTA. I hope to hear more from the Quatour Hermes.