Bartok - The String Quartets

Started by George, September 16, 2011, 05:46:10 PM

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amw

Quote from: Mandryka on September 30, 2014, 12:11:09 PM
The 4th is with a quartet by Hartmann, the 5th is with some music by Hindemith. The style is very different from Takacs 2, you may not like it. Less dramatic.
I'm not sure, I liked Ebène as well and they take a fragile/lyrical sort of approach. I'll keep an eye open for Zehetmair if they come down in price ($35 a cd at my local shop). Vegh II is the one I've been listening to lately (Naïve).

Quote
If you haven't heard Zehetmair's Holliger 2, you're missing something.
I don't doubt it, Holliger's one of the very greatest living composers IMO.

K_JOE_

I recommend checking this one out, It's a nice !
  Párkányí Quartet
Bartók: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2

Mandryka

#62
Quote from: amw on September 30, 2014, 11:02:46 PM
I'm not sure, I liked Ebène as well and they take a fragile/lyrical sort of approach.

I haven't heard the CD with the early quartets, but Ebène played 4 in Verbier in 2013, and they are fragile there too. It's not a style I like in this music at all. If you want the recording let me know - though I just saw they're on youtube with a different performance, from Wissembourg.

My big new Bartok discovery is The Lindsays - I have never heard more exciting and poingnant performances of 5 and 6, full of flair and abandon. I've also started to explore the rather inhuman 4 from Cuarteto Casals.
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

Mandryka

Quote from: snyprrr on September 30, 2014, 05:45:45 PM
I have the Emerson's 3rd stuck in my memory banks as the greatest thing I've ever heard. If you can find me a better 3, I can safely ditch the Emerson,... but... that 3... I'm sorry, at the 'cowbell' section they just send chills through me, I can smell the pine air- the cold mountainside- mmm... mmm...

.

You may enjoy the old recording of 3 by The New Music String Quartet
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

jlaurson

Here's a list of Bartok SQ4t recordings that I'm wondering whether anyone might have to add to it:

("incomplete" means: 4 or 5 Quartets recorded)


Takacs II   Decca         
Juilliard 1963   Sony         
Vegh II   Naïve         
Emerson   DG         
Tokyo I   DG         
Keller   Erato / Warner         
Guarneri   RCA   1974   1977   
Belcea   EMI         
Hagen   DG / Newton         
Parker   Zig-Zag         
Hungarian   DG         
Párkányí   Praga Digitals         SACD
Novak   Philips         
Takacs I   Hungaroton         
Mikrokosmos   Hungaroton         SACD
Tátrai            
Vegh I (1954)   Music & Arts         mono
Juilliard 1950   Pearl         mono
Juilliard 1981   Sony         "digital"
Alban Berg Quartet   EMI         
Endellion   Virgin         incomplete: 1, 3, 4, 6
New Hungarian Quartet   Pantheon         
Alexander    foghorn         w/Kodaly
Fine Arts Quartet   Music & Arts      1959   
Guarneri    Sony, RCA / Newton         
Euclid   Artek   2008   2011   
Vermeer   Naxos         
Rubin   Brilliant      2003   
Tokyo II   RCA         
New Budapest   Hyperion      1992   
Lindsay    ASV         
Vertavo   Simax         
Chilingirian   Chandos         
Talich Quartet   Collins / Supraphon         
Ramor Quartet   Vox / Tuxedo Music      ~1991   
Bartók Quartet   Canyon      1991   live
Eder Quartett   Teldec      1981?   
New Zealand String Quartet   manu | Ode records / Atoll      1990s   
Penederecki Quartet   eclectra         
Penassou ??   Ades ??         
Quatuor Parrenin   Westminster / Gall(o)         incomplete on CD

Mandryka

#65
Quote from: jlaurson on March 05, 2015, 04:14:42 PM
Here's a list of Bartok SQ4t recordings that I'm wondering whether anyone might have to add to it:

("incomplete" means: 4 or 5 Quartets recorded)


Takacs II   Decca         
Juilliard 1963   Sony         
Vegh II   Naïve         
Emerson   DG         
Tokyo I   DG         
Keller   Erato / Warner         
Guarneri   RCA   1974   1977   
Belcea   EMI         
Hagen   DG / Newton         
Parker   Zig-Zag         
Hungarian   DG         
Párkányí   Praga Digitals         SACD
Novak   Philips         
Takacs I   Hungaroton         
Mikrokosmos   Hungaroton         SACD
Tátrai            
Vegh I (1954)   Music & Arts         mono
Juilliard 1950   Pearl         mono
Juilliard 1981   Sony         "digital"
Alban Berg Quartet   EMI         
Endellion   Virgin         incomplete: 1, 3, 4, 6
New Hungarian Quartet   Pantheon         
Alexander    foghorn         w/Kodaly
Fine Arts Quartet   Music & Arts      1959   
Guarneri    Sony, RCA / Newton         
Euclid   Artek   2008   2011   
Vermeer   Naxos         
Rubin   Brilliant      2003   
Tokyo II   RCA         
New Budapest   Hyperion      1992   
Lindsay    ASV         
Vertavo   Simax         
Chilingirian   Chandos         
Talich Quartet   Collins / Supraphon         
Ramor Quartet   Vox / Tuxedo Music      ~1991   
Bartók Quartet   Canyon      1991   live
Eder Quartett   Teldec      1981?   
New Zealand String Quartet   manu | Ode records / Atoll      1990s   
Penederecki Quartet   eclectra         
Penassou ??   Ades ??         
Quatuor Parrenin   Westminster / Gall(o)         incomplete on CD

The Bartok Quartet recorded them twice, first time for Erato in 1967, with Péter Komlós, Sándor Devich, Géza Nemeth and László Mezö.

There may be more than one cycle from the Tatrai - though I'm not sure how many of them they recorded first time round.

Ebene have recorded 1,2, 3 and 4 - the 4 has not been released commercially.

There's a cycle from Quarteto Classico and one from the Rudi Mahall Quartet (apart from 4.)

The whole area of The Hungarian Quartet in this discography is knotty. I once asked someone about it and got this reply:

Quote

The New Hungarian Quartet, 1972 on, retained the original violist Koromzay and had Toth as leader instead of Szekely. . .

The Hungarian quartet was formed with Sandor Vegh in 1935 but by 1937 Szekely was leader, so that's the lineup that's on most recordings. Szekely and Koromzay went through to 1972 though the 2nd violin and cello changed. This lineup recorded the Bartok set for DG in 1962.

There's versions of 5 and 6 on Testament Mono, with Moskovsky and Palatai which come from a live recital in Edinburgh in 1955. . . .

Also a live 1961 5th on Orfeo with Kuttner and Magyar, as the 1962 set.  And live versions in Menton 1961 of 5 and 6 which may/may not be the same as on Orfeo.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hungarian-String-Quartet-and-Zoltan-Szekely-Historical-Recordings-and-Previously-Unissued-Public-Performances-1937-1968/dp/B0007MSV52/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk?ie=UTF8

There was a studio set from 1946 issued on HMV 78s. . . . it had good reviews at the time.

I don't know anything more about that 1946 set, I've not tried to find the reviews.
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

jlaurson

Quote from: Mandryka on March 06, 2015, 10:10:56 PM
The Bartok Quartet recorded them twice, first time for Erato in 1967, with Péter Komlós, Sándor Devich, Géza Nemeth and László Mezö.

There may be more than one cycle from the Tatrai - though I'm not sure how many of them they recorded first time round.

Ebene have recorded 1,2, 3 and 4 - the 4 has not been released commercially.

There's a cycle from Quarteto Classico and one from the Rudi Mahall Quartet (apart from 4.)

The whole area of The Hungarian Quartet in this discography is knotty. I once asked someone about it and got this reply:

I don't know anything more about that 1946 set, I've not tried to find the reviews.

Thanks much!!!

banpuku

#67
Last night I listened to the 4th by Tokyo SQ.  I have a pristine copy of the Tokyo on Deutsche Grammophon.  The playing was absolutely superb and the sonics / recording were probably the best I have heard from any LP.  This set has become a showcase LP.  Excellent tonal balance with wide dynamic range.  String plucks sound as if they are happening in the listening room.  Very compelling.

SurprisedByBeauty

Quote from: Mandryka on March 06, 2015, 10:10:56 PM

There's a cycle from Quarteto Classico and one from the Rudi Mahall Quartet (apart from 4.)


Dear Mandryka,

I cannot find the Quarteto Classico (much less a Bartok cycle from them). Do you have any hinters?

Thanks ever so much!

MusicTurner

I just got the Rubin4 set on Arte Nova for very little money and am looking forward to listening to this apparently somewhat lyrical version.

Mandryka

Quote from: SurprisedByBeauty on May 25, 2021, 05:37:41 AM
Dear Mandryka,

I cannot find the Quarteto Classico (much less a Bartok cycle from them). Do you have any hinters?

Thanks ever so much!

https://www.amazon.com/Bart%C3%B3k-B%C3%A9la-String-Quartets-Pt/dp/B006NGAACS

I can't remember anything about it, I may listen later.
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

SurprisedByBeauty


Mandryka

Quote from: SurprisedByBeauty on May 25, 2021, 07:15:46 AM
Thanks much!!!

I started to listen but all I learned was that I'm not in the mood for Bartok! Well recorded though, you can hear the string texture in the recording. They've also got an Art of Fugue but after 10 minutes I decided it was totally middle of the road - but sounds good!
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

bhodges

The Tesla Quartet are in the middle of their exploration of the six quartets -- a mix of discussion, rehearsals, and livestreamed performances. The next one is this weekend, climaxing with No. 4, performed on Saturday at 7:30 pm EDT. The final two will be in June.

https://www.teslaquartet.com/bartok-journey

--Bruce

staxomega

Quote from: SurprisedByBeauty on May 25, 2021, 07:15:46 AM
Thanks much!!!

Jens do you have an updated list? I couldn't find one using Google search through your blog. This is not an exhaustive list, from your previous post these are the ones I've heard that came out from 2015 onward - Jerusalem, Ragazze (1, 2, 4), Arcadia, Diotima and Heath.

SurprisedByBeauty

Quote from: hvbias on May 29, 2021, 09:19:48 AM
Jens do you have an updated list? I couldn't find one using Google search through your blog. This is not an exhaustive list, from your previous post these are the ones I've heard that came out from 2015 onward - Jerusalem, Ragazze (1, 2, 4), Arcadia, Diotima and Heath.

I'm working on it, to have a "Bartok String Quartet Cycle Survey" up on ionarts soonish. Thanks for all the hinters. (Couldn't find anything about the "Quartetto Classico" and the "Creation" label, interestingly, other than the Amazon link.)

Todd

#76
After thoroughly enjoying the first disc of the Ragazze Quartet's cycle, and expecting a similar level of satisfaction from the second, I have started contemplating a deep dive.  Not seeing one from Jens yet, though I may have missed it, I put together the best list I could based on searching the interwebs.  Any notable ones missing? 


Own:
Belcea
Chiara
Diotima
Emerson
Fine Arts
Hagen
Hungarian
Juilliard 2
Juilliard 3
Ragazze
Takacs 2
Tokyo 1
Vegh 1
Vegh 2


Considering:
Alban Berg
Alexander
Amati
Arcadia
Auryn
Bartok
Bartok Quartet Of Budapest
Chilingirian
Classico
Eder
Euclid
Guarneri
Heath
Jerusalem
Juilliard 1
Keller
Lindsays
Mari Iwamoto
Mikrokosmos
New Budapest
New Zealand
Novak
Orpheus
Parkanyi
Parker
Parrenin
Penassou
Ramor
Rubin
Tackacs 1
Tatrai
Tokyo 2
Vermeer
Vertavo
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

Mandryka

Quote from: Todd on January 09, 2022, 10:10:47 AM
Not seeing one from Jens yet, though I may have missed it

Quote from: jlaurson on March 05, 2015, 04:14:42 PM
Here's a list of Bartok SQ4t recordings that I'm wondering whether anyone might have to add to it:

("incomplete" means: 4 or 5 Quartets recorded)


Takacs II   Decca         
Juilliard 1963   Sony         
Vegh II   Naïve         
Emerson   DG         
Tokyo I   DG         
Keller   Erato / Warner         
Guarneri   RCA   1974   1977   
Belcea   EMI         
Hagen   DG / Newton         
Parker   Zig-Zag         
Hungarian   DG         
Párkányí   Praga Digitals         SACD
Novak   Philips         
Takacs I   Hungaroton         
Mikrokosmos   Hungaroton         SACD
Tátrai            
Vegh I (1954)   Music & Arts         mono
Juilliard 1950   Pearl         mono
Juilliard 1981   Sony         "digital"
Alban Berg Quartet   EMI         
Endellion   Virgin         incomplete: 1, 3, 4, 6
New Hungarian Quartet   Pantheon         
Alexander    foghorn         w/Kodaly
Fine Arts Quartet   Music & Arts      1959   
Guarneri    Sony, RCA / Newton         
Euclid   Artek   2008   2011   
Vermeer   Naxos         
Rubin   Brilliant      2003   
Tokyo II   RCA         
New Budapest   Hyperion      1992   
Lindsay    ASV         
Vertavo   Simax         
Chilingirian   Chandos         
Talich Quartet   Collins / Supraphon         
Ramor Quartet   Vox / Tuxedo Music      ~1991   
Bartók Quartet   Canyon      1991   live
Eder Quartett   Teldec      1981?   
New Zealand String Quartet   manu | Ode records / Atoll      1990s   
Penederecki Quartet   eclectra         
Penassou ??   Ades ??         
Quatuor Parrenin   Westminster / Gall(o)         incomplete on CD
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

amw

I also own the cycle by the Auryn Quartett on Accord, not on your list. It's pretty good.

I believe the Bartók Quartet also recorded it twice, although I don't know if they are different from the Bartók Quartet of Budapest.

Todd

Quote from: amw on January 09, 2022, 12:07:41 PMI also own the cycle by the Auryn Quartett on Accord, not on your list. It's pretty good.


Added the Auryn.  I won't try to grab everything, since I can't anyway, with some on LP only.  Maybe I double my current count. 
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya