Mozart String Quintets, Fine Arts Qrt + Francis Tursi

Started by Scion7, March 04, 2012, 06:30:44 AM

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Scion7

March 04, 2012, 06:30:44 AM Last Edit: March 04, 2012, 06:33:31 AM by Scion7
             click to enlarge


For a long time in the vinyl age, the only way to get a complete set of the Mozart String Quintets was this one.
Vox pressing - not great ... not great at all.  Good performance, acceptable sound. The late Francis Tursi (1992) on viola.
You could get one or two quintets here and there on DG or Philips, but usually just one as a side of an LP paired with a quartet or some other piece.
Also, only a couple were recorded - the others being neglected for whatever reasons the record company logic concluded.

This set is available on CD now: http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Complete-Quintets-Wolfgang-Amadeus/dp/B000AA4L3M

     from American Record Guide, Nov. 2005
This is a reissue of the 3-LP Vox Box that the Fine Arts Quartet made in 1975. It is now elegantly packaged as three quintets per disc, and it is an absolute treat from beginning to end. First of all, these quintets are some of Mozart's best chamber music (while listening to any one of these quintets I could say that the particular piece I am listening to is Mozart's best piece of chamber music). The Fine Arts Quartet plays each piece as if it were a special privilege to be able to play it.    Actually, they were recorded in December 1974.

______________________________________________________
I picked the Quintets up last summer on CD:


Saint-Saëns, who predicted to Charles Lecocq in 1901: 'That fellow Ravel seems to me to be destined for a serious future.'

Herman

#1
March 04, 2012, 09:44:18 AM
Quote from: Scion7 on March 04, 2012, 06:30:44 AM
           

For a long time in the vinyl age, the only way to get a complete set of the Mozart String Quintets was this one.


Really?

The Grumiaux recording was released by Philips in 1973 or 1974.

Before that the Amadeus Quartett with Aronowitz had been released between 1968 and 1970.

I haven't checked when the Talich Quartet + came out.

Scion7

#2
March 04, 2012, 11:33:49 AM
Yeah, but were they not available/in print for a certain period?   For a while, the only complete set listed in Schwaan was the Vox.  I looked for about 5 months before finally purchasing it, because Vox pressings were so noisy.
Saint-Saëns, who predicted to Charles Lecocq in 1901: 'That fellow Ravel seems to me to be destined for a serious future.'

ccar

#3
March 04, 2012, 12:19:24 PM Last Edit: March 04, 2012, 01:48:51 PM by ccar
The Fine Arts recordings (1974) of the Mozart Strings Quintets are very fine and were indeed released in 1975 in a convenient LP box.

But I believe we should also remember some other "sets" from that same LP era. The Budapest with Walter Trampler (complete; rec 1941-56). The Juilliard – in studio for the CBS (complete; rec 1970's) and live at the Library of the Congress (complete; rec 1964-67). The Griller, with William Primrose (rec 1959) - only 5 of the 6 quintets but truly wonderful performances.  And also the two other European complete sets already mentioned – the Grumiaux trio, with Gérecz and Lesueu (rec 1973) and the Amadeus, with Cecil Aranowitz (rec 1967-75).   


                                                                     

Mandryka

#4
March 04, 2012, 08:51:16 PM Last Edit: March 04, 2012, 08:57:38 PM by Mandryka
Plus the Emil Kessinger and the Barachet Quartet. How many did Wilhelm Hübner record with the Barylli quartet? My favourites for some time have been the Leipzig quartet and Hartmut Rode, put up on symphonyshare from conncerts in Amsterdam in 2006, though I like very much the old Budapest Quartet recordings with Walter Trampler.

I haven't heard the Juilliard one -- is it good?
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

prémont

#5
March 05, 2012, 12:06:53 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on March 04, 2012, 08:51:16 PM
Plus the Emil Kessinger and the Barchet Quartet.

Yes, the great Reinhold Barchet, almost forgotten today. The 4th of July this year 50 years have passed, since he suddenly died from a heart attack, aged 42.


Reality trumps our fantasy far beyond imagination.

Scion7

#6
March 05, 2012, 04:17:04 AM
Some of those sound pretty good!
I wish they'd been in print at the time I was trying to get a good, complete set.
I'm ok with the Vox, just wished they'd had a great pressing plant in Germany or Holland.    ;D
Saint-Saëns, who predicted to Charles Lecocq in 1901: 'That fellow Ravel seems to me to be destined for a serious future.'

Clever Hans

#7
March 05, 2012, 11:40:08 AM
I've seen complaints about the intonation on the Griller set. Is it really that bad? If it's like Vegh level I can easily deal.

Dancing Divertimentian

#8
March 05, 2012, 05:51:06 PM
Quote from: Clever Hans on March 05, 2012, 11:40:08 AM
I've seen complaints about the intonation on the Griller set. Is it really that bad? If it's like Vegh level I can easily deal.

Nothing grating intonation-wise to these ears with the Griller. Fine set that's been my favorite for years.


Veit Bach-a baker who found his greatest pleasure in a little cittern which he took with him even into the mill and played while the grinding was going on. In this way he had a chance to have the rhythm drilled into him. And this was the beginning of a musical inclination in his descendants. JS Bach

Clever Hans

#9
March 06, 2012, 03:02:41 PM
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on March 05, 2012, 05:51:06 PM
Nothing grating intonation-wise to these ears with the Griller. Fine set that's been my favorite for years.

Thanks for your input. I will have to pick it up then.

SonicMan46

#10
May 11, 2014, 08:12:08 AM
I was participating in the Mozart thread where a discussion of the String Quintets was taking place - so visited Amazon USA to see what might be available (currently own the Talich & Nash Ensemble) - I was curious about a PI recording of all of the SQuintets but not sure if there is a good recent one?

However, I came across the 2-CD set below labeled 'Viola Quintets' (but the same works) and then found this thread from 2012 - these are recordings from December 1974 released the following year on Vox (as discussed in the OP) - now remastered from the original analog tapes, I believe - decent price on the Amazon MP - just curious if anyone owns theses CD recordings?  Thanks - Dave :)

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