Das Alban Berg Quartett

[Josquin des Prez]

There is a Teldec Box, which has everything (8 cds; pretty cheap). Probably my single favorite purchase!

Ho my, ordered in an instant.

[snyprrr]

Hmmm,... I had the second cd of their Haydn/Op.76 (1, 5, & 6, EMI; 1998), which, as I mentioned somewhere (and someone backed me up), the recording seems to have a funny mastering aggressiveness. Otherwise, the performance is exemplary.

So, I just got the Op.76 2-4, and, right from the first note of the Fifths, it is evident that the sound quality is different. Here, you are in the back row of a large church. As I look at the recording dates, the Fifths is 1993, the Emperor & Sunrise, 1994, and the rest, 1998. 3-4 get slightly better sound, but, it seems that if I turn it up, there is unpleasantness to be had.

Well then, here is a great example of,... hm,...something. Great performances marred by sound quality issues. I mean, their Op.76 can't really be considered a set, IMHO. It's certainly not cohesive sonically.

This was quite the disappointment.