The Lindsay String Quartet

[Mandryka]

The slow movement of the opus 54/2 never sound like this, even with the Amadeus.
.

I bought that on the strength of your recommendation. I think you're understating the case in fact. Op 54/2 is brilliant in at least three of its four movements.

I didn't know these quartets before. In the hands of the Lindsays, they all sound very special  to me.

So thanks for posting.

[mjwal]

I haven't heard the Lindsays' Op.54/2, but from the Mozart I know by them I am not optimistic about liking it. It's more to do with "harmonic phrasing" (if you know what I mean) than wrong or sour notes - I can't be more precise. My favourite Op.54/2 is the historic recording by the Pro Arte Quartet, then the Juilliard Qt on an old CBS LP. I may try the Lindsays in this however, since it is one of my best-loved string quartets and one can have enough recordings of those (unless one lives somewhere with a wide variety of chamber music concerts one can afford to frequent).

[snyprrr]

My favourite Op.54/2 is the historic recording by the Pro Arte Quartet, then the Juilliard Qt on an old CBS LP.

Those I'd like to hear.



I was checking out Amazon samples of the two LvB cycles, specifically Opp.130/133. The older rec. has a lot of reverb, but the new one is quite in yer face indeed! I'm curious who has both sets, and, since they are so cheap piecemeal, which is literally the single best Lindsay/LvB issue? I'm assuming you all are going to say the first Op.132, followed by the new one.

[Herman]

you are truly the reincarnation of paulb, basing entire threads on listening to 30 sec clips on amazon

[snyprrr]

you are truly the reincarnation of paulb, basing entire threads on listening to 30 sec clips on amazon

30 sec clips on amazon have saved me buttloads of $$$! and yes, when every clip plays the almost exact same phrase, i do believe that the intuitive can deduce what needs to be gleaned. please don't scold me just because i have to use every tool at my cheap-ass disposal to get the most bang for my buck. at the very least, you can immediately hear sound quality issues, and such.

youtube, also, helps me stick it to the man!

so there!

[Herman]

youtube, also, helps me stick it to the man!

YouTube can be useful when one's pondering a purchase indeed.

[DavidW]

Snips those clips can be misleading.  Just last night I listened to some clips and thought one thing, and then went to nml and heard entire movements and realized my impression from the clips was COMPLETELY WRONG!!  Trust me, clips are no good.

[Mandryka]

Snips those clips can be misleading.  Just last night I listened to some clips and thought one thing, and then went to nml and heard entire movements and realized my impression from the clips was COMPLETELY WRONG!!  Trust me, clips are no good.

Same for listening to a CD on poor quality hi-fi.

Only people who hear the whole thing on an excellent sound system can comment.

[DavidW]

Same for listening to a CD on poor quality hi-fi.

Only people who hear the whole thing on an excellent sound system can comment.

I strongly disagree, the improvement from midend to high end is subtle.  Picking up more microphonics and a subtle shift in tonal signature should never alter your opinion of a performance as a whole.  And there is nothing that you miss by using inexpensive gear.

[Mandryka]

I strongly disagree, the improvement from midend to high end is subtle.  Picking up more microphonics and a subtle shift in tonal signature should never alter your opinion of a performance as a whole.  And there is nothing that you miss by using inexpensive gear.

That's not my experience at all. The best hi fi makes some  recordings sound a bit more like real  music making.

[DavidW]

That's not my experience at all. The best hi fi makes some  recordings sound a bit more like real  music making.

Exactly it is "a bit" closer to real music making, not alot, and certainly not so much that anyone that doesn't have expensive gear should be automatically disqualified as having an invalid opinion as you suggest.

[Mandryka]

Exactly it is "a bit" closer to real music making, not alot, and certainly not so much that anyone that doesn't have expensive gear should be automatically disqualified as having an invalid opinion as you suggest.

yeah -- but a surprisingly important bit.

I went recently from mid range horns and transistors  to high end electrostatics and valves. I'm quite amazed at how some recordings sound so much more interesting and engaging, and . . . musical. Like real music being made in my living room. (I'm sorry, I can't explain it better)

And that means that some recordings which I had thought were pretty ordinary and uninteresting have shown themselves to be in some ways quite special.

I still have the old system and occasionally I've checked to see whether my ears are deceiving me. But no, I don't think so.

[mjwal]

Not being wealthy enough for high end, I usually find that getting high at this end makes even dodgy old recordings sound fantastic. Ooh ooh ooh, what a toke or two will do if you're broke.

[Gurn Blanston]

Not being wealthy enough for high end, I usually find that getting high at this end makes even dodgy old recordings sound fantastic. Ooh ooh ooh, what a toke or two will do if you're broke.

Who can argue with that?  Any part of that, in fact. 



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Now playing:
Quartetto Italiano - D 887 Quartet #15 in G for Strings 4th mvmt - Allegro assai

[Bulldog]

Snips those clips can be misleading.  Just last night I listened to some clips and thought one thing, and then went to nml and heard entire movements and realized my impression from the clips was COMPLETELY WRONG!!  Trust me, clips are no good.

Agreed.  It amazes me that anyone would use them to make a purchasing decision.

[prémont]

Agreed.  It amazes me that anyone would use them to make a purchasing decision.

Precisely my words.

[snyprrr]

You guys are mean!

[DavidW]

You guys are mean!

Sign up for a streaming service dude.  You'll be much happier for it.  And more importantly your wallet will be heavier.

[snyprrr]

Just heard the Lindsays play Mozart's K389 (is that right?) in G. As usual, their enthusiasm and general good time music making carrfy the day. The finale was pretty fast, though; not that it was bad, just pretty fast: I think the ABQ is a touch less hopped up here. Still, the Lindsays are the go to guys when you need a loosed collar version!

[Mandryka]

The Mendelssohn 6 here seems to me to catch them at their best, with same burning inspiration as some of their live Haydn, and their Op 132. All other Mendelssohn 6s are tame by comparison.

The faster movements they play with real rage and tension. The slow movement is emotional poetry of the highest order