Haydn's string quartets - how did your love affair begin?

Karafan · February 18, 2025, 04:53:45 AM

I recently caught a David Hurwitz YouTube video on his favourite recordings of Haydn's opus 20 string quartets. He ended his piece by saying that no matter what mood he is in, playing a quartet from this set invariably allows the sun out from behind the clouds and imbues him with a feeling that - no matter what life throws at us - all will be well in the end.

In the comments section, two or three people recalled how a lifelong love for the Haydn SQs began for them, some recalling in quite vivid detail just where they were when they were first exposed to this music and the profound effect it has had on them since. One commenter said that they were seminal for him/her and they had recommended them to other music lovers, but few took them up on the suggestion.

At any rate, this all struck a chord with me (no pun intended), and I wonder if you have a long affection for his quartets how it began for you, or has one (or more) had a significant part to play in your life and/or musical development? Which do you keep returning to and why?

Madiel · February 18, 2025, 05:02:15 AM

I bought the op.76 quartets on cassette, Kodaly Quartet on Naxos, as a teenager.

One of my first classical purchases. Those quartets got a serious workout during exam preparation.

nico1616 · February 18, 2025, 08:18:09 AM

Quote from: Madiel on February 18, 2025, 05:02:15 AMI bought the op.76 quartets on cassette, Kodaly Quartet on Naxos, as a teenager.

Same here, the Naxos Kodaly's opus 76, mine on cd

hopefullytrusting · February 18, 2025, 08:36:39 AM

Quote from: nico1616 on February 18, 2025, 08:18:09 AMSame here, the Naxos Kodaly's opus 76, mine on cd

Ditto.

ChamberNut · February 18, 2025, 08:36:59 AM

Ditto

DavidW · February 18, 2025, 09:14:25 AM

Same. Op 76 Kodaly or Op 50 is where I started. It was recommended to me by @Gurn Blanston on this forum 20 years ago or so.

Mapman · February 18, 2025, 09:31:02 AM

I started listening to Haydn's quartets more recently than most here. I was encouraged to listen to them by all of the positive comments here (and elsewhere). I was also inspired to listen to more of them by this excellent video:

Karafan · February 18, 2025, 09:45:55 AM

Quote from: Mapman on February 18, 2025, 09:31:02 AMI started listening to Haydn's quartets more recently than most here. I was encouraged to listen to them by all of the positive comments here (and elsewhere). I was also inspired to listen to more of them by this excellent video:

thanks,I think I'll enjoy that!

nico1616 · February 18, 2025, 10:34:42 AM

After the opus 76 came opus 20 by the Mosaïques, still one of the best sets of Haydn quartets I own.
And I adore this cover.

Daverz · February 18, 2025, 10:46:43 AM

Herman · February 19, 2025, 07:47:07 AM

Late seventies I purchased a 9 LP box from a German subsidiary of Vox with the Fine Arts Quartet playing a host of Haydn quartets.
At the time it was almost mandatory that a string quartet recital started with a Haydn SQ, so in many cases it was not the first time I heard these pieces.

André · February 19, 2025, 09:42:40 AM

Quote from: Herman on February 19, 2025, 07:47:07 AMLate seventies I purchased a 9 LP box from a German subsidiary of Vox with the Fine Arts Quartet playing a host of Haydn quartets.
At the time it was almost mandatory that a string quartet recital started with a Haydn SQ, so in many cases it was not the first time I heard these pieces.

That's the one I got to know somewhere in the mid seventies:

It was my first ever chamber music purchase. I was especially taken by the menuetto of the 2nd quartet. Then the opening movement of the 3rd and 4th, and so on. I've listened to this set countless times.

San Antone · February 19, 2025, 10:37:30 AM

I had a set of 27 string quartets on DG by the Amadeus Quartet which was my introduction to these fantastic works. Then after joining GMG and interacting with members like Gurn, I came under the sway of the PI groups like the Festetics Quartet (still my favorite), Quatuor Mosaiques, the Schuppanzigh-Quartett and others.

I must have accumulated half a dozen different sets. Sadly, I hardly ever listen to them anymore.

Maybe today I should go ahead and listen again.

Daverz · February 19, 2025, 11:25:35 AM

Quote from: André on February 19, 2025, 09:42:40 AMThat's the one I got to know somewhere in the mid seventies:

It was my first ever chamber music purchase. I was especially taken by the menuetto of the 2nd quartet. Then the opening movement of the 3rd and 4th, and so on. I've listened to this set countless times.

Naxos now owns the Vox catalog and has remastered the combined Fine Arts & Dekany Quartet Haydn cycle. Download and streaming only AFAIK. There's also still a super cheap "Haydn Quartet Mega box" download available.

André · February 19, 2025, 11:49:45 AM

Following that purchase (I was probably 16 or 17) I bought another Vox Box chamber music set with the Fine Arts Quartet: Mozart's 'Haydn' quartets. Both have been among my most prized music possessions. First love maybe but I don't think I've heard finer performances than these for both.

aukhawk · February 24, 2025, 02:22:50 AM

I'm a relative latecomer to Haydn Quartets (and Haydn in general). For most of my music-loving life chamber music started with Schubert's String Quintet and Mendelssohn's String Octet, and ended via Debussy and Ravel's Quartets, at Shostakovich's 8th String Quartet and his 2nd Piano Trio. I did have a couple of the Kodaly Quartet CDs, but they never grabbed my attention.

What did hook me was the release in 2016 of the Op.20 quartets recorded by the Chiaroscuro Quartet.

Haydn, Op20 1-3, Chiaroscuro Quartet

Imprinting I know, but I still find Op.20 to be the summit of Haydn's work, and 1771 his best year. I enjoy Op.33 and Op.50 as well, and most of the symphonies from around 1765-75, but the rest not so much.