Bartok's String Quartets

[George]

I've always been a big fan of the Takacs (Decca) with their wide dynamic range and wonderful color, without sacrificing an ounce of intensity (and bite).

The stereo Vegh in this company doesn't have all that much bite but makes up for it in homespun warmth, if anyone's after that (they take three discs).

Thanks, Don, saved me some typing! I strongly second every word here.

The Hungarian QT on DG is my current favorite, though. I have only heard it once, but it blew me away.

[The new erato]

The Hungarian QT on DG is my current favorite, though. I have only heard it once, but it blew me away.

Mine too. I "grew up" on them.

[Scarpia]

The Hungarian QT on DG is my current favorite, though. I have only heard it once, but it blew me away.

I agree, I suggested that one a few posts back.  The Takacs didn't grab me, but I originally know this music from the Emerson Quartet recording, which I continue to enjoy.

[AndyD.]

I agree, I suggested that one a few posts back.  The Takacs didn't grab me, but I originally know this music from the Emerson Quartet recording, which I continue to enjoy.

I went with the Emerson, both for financial reasons as well as having read so many glowing reviews. I'd hesitated with them at first, because I'm very ambivalent toward alot of their output, mostly their hit and miss Beethoven Late SQs. But mostly I've heard raves in regard to their Bartok.

But I'm going to be giving the Takacs a listen, thanks to a wonderful friend.

[Scarpia]

I went with the Emerson, both for financial reasons as well as having read so many glowing reviews. I'd hesitated with them at first, because I'm very ambivalent toward alot of their output, mostly their hit and miss Beethoven Late SQs. But mostly I've heard raves in regard to their Bartok.

I wouldn't go to the Emersons for Beethoven, but Bartok, Shostakovich, that sort of stuff, is prime stuff for them.

[George]

I wouldn't go to the Emersons for Beethoven, but Bartok, Shostakovich, that sort of stuff, is prime stuff for them.

Yeah, I agree. Many of the reasons why I don't like their Beethoven would be good reasons to believe that their Bartok would be great.

[AndyD.]

Yeah, I agree. Many of the reasons why I don't like their Beethoven would be good reasons to believe that their Bartok would be great.

Now here's the most thought provoking post I've read since I've been back. I think you're right. One of the reasons I think that is: check out their manhandling of the Grosse Fuge. I have serious issues with how they performed that, and I think they deviated too much from the score. It actually could pass as a very rough Bartok-y type of interpretation, in my humble opinion.

[dirkronk]

The Juilliard (mine on original US Columbia LP) remains the first set I reach for when I'm in the mood, and the only other vinyl survivor of past purges is a single LP of Tokyo doing the 2 & 6 on DGG. These are all recommended. I do have the Tatrai on vinyl as well, but it's in a box marked "possible sale"...not because of the performances, some of which I find wonderful, but because the sound is rather dim and even suspect in places, due perhaps to the iffy vinyl used for the old Dover pressings. (I WILL be checking these out before I make a final decision; the Tatrai's Bartok isn't all that easy to find in this form any more.)

On CD, the choice for me widens only a bit. I do have a copy of the Emersons, a group that--like George and Scarpia and others--I was surprised to find to be so good in this music. I too was disappointed in their LvB (major understatement here, folks). Other that those, it's back to the early '60s Juilliards, though for some reason I actually prefer listening to them on LP. Go figure.

Otherwise, the only performances I've kept around are assorted single quartets, usually on live chamber programs, and thus not helpful as recommendations for a purchase.

Enjoy the search!

Dirk

[Dancing Divertimentian]

The Hungarian QT on DG is my current favorite, though. I have only heard it once, but it blew me away.

Sounds interesting, George! I've never run across the Hungarian Quartet before.

Haven't heard any of the Juilliard/Bartok recordings, either, and I'm generally a fan of the Juilliards.

The problem I'm having is I'm in that "how many sets do I need" dilemma with three sets already. I would love to hear all these fine sets one day but I don't know how I could justify springing for them. Dang......  

[karlhenning]

The problem I'm having is I'm in that "how many sets do I need" dilemma with three sets already.

Yes, exactly!  In fact, I am more alive to this than ever, now that (without any musical regret at all, mind you) I yielded to temptation flung my way by David Ross, and fetched in 1-½ more Sibelius symphony sets ; )

Under the circs, and because I really do enjoy the Emersons' Bartók set unreservedly . . . even that budget-priced Keller set I am going to resist.

[AndyD.]

Yes, exactly!  In fact, I am more alive to this than ever, now that (without any musical regret at all, mind you) I yielded to temptation flung my way by David Ross, and fetched in 1-½ more Sibelius symphony sets ; )

Under the circs, and because I really do enjoy the Emersons' Bartók set unreservedly . . . even that budget-priced Keller set I am going to resist.

I think, in the case of Sibelius, more is good.



Well, I hope the Emerson set of Bartok SQs that I ordered is at least close in quality to the Takacs that George turned me onto. The Vegh features compelling playing and excellent sound quality. If there was ever good reason to own more than two sets of Bartok's quartets, the Takacs is it.

[karlhenning]

Indeed, I can emend without any musical regret to the more economical without regret of any sort.

[SonicMan46]

Yes, exactly!  In fact, I am more alive to this than ever, now that (without any musical regret at all, mind you) I yielded to temptation flung my way by David Ross, and fetched in 1-½ more Sibelius symphony sets ; )

Under the circs, and because I really do enjoy the Emersons' Bartók set unreservedly . . . even that budget-priced Keller set I am going to resist.

Mjwal - easy to insert images - but now I'm curious about the Vegh - Amazon has 2 offerings, i.e. a 1954 'mono' recording on 2 discs & another box on 3 discs - not sure about the latter's recording date(s)?

For myself, I own the Emerson set and an inexpensive one w/ the Keller Quartet (image below) - excellent review on the latter HERE - 

Well that 'budget Keller Quartet set is just $7.30 on the Amazon MP for 2 discs of fine music!     In addition to the MusicWeb review quoted above, another short one below:

The Kellers play with arresting intensity and a cogency which illuminates the essence of pure logic throughout these works. A distinguished addition to the Bartók discography.

Bartók's six quartets are to the 20th century what Beethoven's cosmic late masterpieces were to the 19th. Composed over a thirty-year period, they chart Bartók's progress toward sublime mastery, his abandonment of tonality and systematic reappraisal of the conceptual principles of quartet-writing. The First Quartet (1907-9), infused by Debussy, Brahms, and Strauss, already eschews convention, with its three-movement ground plan. The Fourth (1928; remarkable for its concentric, mirror-like architecture) and Fifth (1934) presented a headlong challenge to structural orthodoxy. Bartók's Third Quartet (1927) is the most profoundly concentrated, developing tension through juxtaposed lyrical and motoric episodes, while the final work of the series (1939) is as much point of departure as summation. These sensational performances from the Hungarian Keller Quartet are worthy successors to the seminal Végh Quartet cycle, recorded twenty years ago. The Kellers play with arresting intensity and a cogency which illuminates the essence of pure logic throughout these works. Recorded sound is excellent; warm, resonant and detailed, though a leaner, more clinical ambience (as in DG's mid-priced Tokyo cycle) has certain advantages in scores of such complexity. Galvanic playing, nonetheless, and a distinguished addition to the Bartók discography.

-- Michael Jameson, BBC Music Magazine

[AndyD.]

Well that 'budget Keller Quartet set is just $7.30 on the Amazon MP for 2 discs of fine music!     In addition to the MusicWeb review quoted above, another short one below:

OOO...

[George]

OOO...

Mara is out in full force today, ain't she? 

[karlhenning]

Well that 'budget Keller Quartet set is just $7.30 on the Amazon MP for 2 discs of fine music! 

Peter Sellers in The Party: You naughty, naughty man! : )

[George]

Peter Sellers in The Party: You naughty, naughty man! : )

[AndyD.]

Peter Sellers in The Party: You naughty, naughty man! : )

That's Jasmine's favorite comedy (I love it too).

[Josquin des Prez]

Hugh, i really hated The Party. Dreadful film, and Peter Sellers was just plain ridicolous. A real low point in his career.

[Mandryka]

The problem I'm having is I'm in that "how many sets do I need" dilemma with three sets already. I would love to hear all these fine sets one day but I don't know how I could justify springing for them. Dang......

It's quite an interesting question, that.

I've explored the third a bit recently (it's my favourite), and I was struck by the big differences between interpretations. More striking than with most other quartets.

Maybe you need quite a few CDs – ensembles have personal stuff to say about these  quartets. But of course it depends how much you're into the music!

By the way, talking of the third, it's well worth hearing the New Music Quartet in this – available in quite decent sound through Bartok Records. Though for me in the 3rd, Tatrai is tops.