Dvorak's Chamber Music.

[Mandryka]

I go through a Dvorak binge every few years and it's happening right now.

The thing I'm enjoying  most is the Busch Quartet's Op 51 (No. 10). It's witty and light and fun – I like the Old Vlach on Praga too in this.

I haven't heard anything from the new Vlach on Naxos.  Are those Naxos recordings special in any way? ( Josef Vlach's  daughter, Jana Vlachová,  leads them)

My experience outside a small selection of quartets is a bit less positive, though I like  Op 81. The trios have never much entertained me – though I can see that bits are nice – like the Largo of the 2nd.

A question to start of the discussion maybe – I am curious about this set from the Guarneri – I believe the just thing they recorded for RCA. Does anyone know it?

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=210118

And what is happening with Dvorak on the concert scene – are there any new ensembles who are doing interesting things with his music, apart from Jana Vlachová and her mates?

[Herman]

The Quintet in E flat major Op. 97, with a lot of stuff for the extra viola is pretty neat. And there's the quintet with a double bass added, in G major, Opus 77.

The Prazak Quartet made a superb bunch of recordings since the beginning of the 1990s.

The Pavel Haas Quartet just has a Dvorak cd out.

I don't know about the Guarneri Quartet; I have always thought they weren't really that good.

[Brian]

The Pavel Haas Quartet just has a Dvorak cd out.

And it is stupendous. I got a signed copy at one of their concerts, after hearing the "American" quartet and being simply amazed. Live, it was one of those performances which sounds slower and more luxurious than normal but then, when I looked at my watch, I realized it was "fast." They adopt speedy tempos but are so gentle with them, so elegant, never forcing anything or sounding agitated, so that one doesn't notice. The CD - heh, just listened to it this morning - lives up to expectations. I prefer it to Vlach, Panocha, or Stamitz (Vlach 2nd place); the Pavel Haas are an extremely exciting young group and I feel very privileged to have seen them in concert four times already. The Prazak Quartet are great, though, so their recordings will be on the to-hear list.

Op 77 is one of my very favorite chamber works (there I do like the Vlach on Naxos) - "early" (really mid) Dvorak at his most cheery and tuneful; an early quartet I really like is the short E minor. The only piano trio I've warmed to so far is the famous "Dumky" one, but I've got the Guarneri Trio Prague set of all four and will be exploring them soon. It's an excellent ensemble.

Op 81 is one of the great masterworks. So is Op 106.

[Mandryka]

One reason I was  interested in the Guarneri is that someone on rmcr commented that they were excellent in Op 105 ( Quartet 14.)

I've got two recordings of that one, Vlach Praga -- which I like very much in the final two movements, but somehow the first movement seems a bit less successful -- kind of sewn together -- episodic.

And the Janacek Quartet on DG -- which I love in the first three movements but I feel they aren't so convincing in the final movement.

So you see my problem! I like the quartet.

Thanks for your suggestions Herman and Brian -- I'll try to hear Pavel Haas, Prazak and the quintets you mention.

I've got Suk in the trios -- let me know how you find Guarneri. Deep down I suspect the music isn't so great, but I may be wrong.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I haven't heard anything from the new Vlach on Naxos.  Are those Naxos recordings special in any way? ( Josef Vlach's  daughter, Jana Vlachová,  leads them)

I dunno about "special," but their recording of the two piano quartets (Opp. 23 & 87) got a lot of play from me this year. Very nice disc. Also convinced me that Op. 87 is at least as great a piece as the better known piano quintet (Op. 81).

[Bulldog]

The Pavel Haas Quartet just has a Dvorak cd out.

And it's on my "to buy" list.  There's no way I'm missing out on this one.

Just wanted to add that I love Dvorak's chamber music, including his early works.

[Xenophanes]

I love the new Vlach Quartet's recording of Op. 51, and the coupled Op. 105 is great, too.

http://www.amazon.com/Dvor%C3%A1k-String-Quartets-No-Op/dp/B0000014DK/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

I have their recordings of the other late quartets, too, and they seem first class to me.