Shostakovich String Quartets

[Karl Henning]

I listened to Borodin, Fitzwilliam, Mandelring, Emerson and Rubio. Borodin "won" followed by Fitzwilliam. Earlier today I listened to samples of the Pacifica...liked what I heard. I ordered 1-8. Nice to see you think highly of 8. My purchase has not been in vein 

Sarge

I know our preferences diverge a bit here, but then, why not? Hope you do enjoy these.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks - NOW, I'm even tempted further!   Dave

ADDENDUM: Well, I 'bit the bullet' and just ordered all 4 volumes from the Amazon MP - $10 each per 2-disc set w/ the usual $4 handling - basically, $5 per CD before S/H - fine w/ me!  Dave

I think you will find the Shostakovich set well done, and there is the bonus of the singleton Prokofiev, Weinberg, Myaskovsky & Schnittke quartets.

[Sergeant Rock]

The 8th played by the Sorrel Quartet is just simply the best single chamber music recording I own.

One thing I look for, and prefer in the 8th is a slowish Allegretto...the Sorrel delivers. Their cycle is only €26...hmmmm....

Sarge

[aukhawk]

The set includes a pretty slow rendition of the Piano Quintet, too.  (Apart from the Scherzo which is suitably manic.)

8th reviewed here

[Sergeant Rock]

The set includes a pretty slow rendition of the Piano Quintet, too.  (Apart from the Scherzo which is suitably manic.)

8th reviewed here

Thanks for the link 

Sarge

[SonicMan46]

Slender two-fer jewel boxes, Dave.

Thanks Karl - put in an order last night for all 4 volumes - Dave

[snyprrr]

Is there a separate PQ Thread? Otherwise, I was raised on the Borodin Trio (Chandos) and the Beaux Arts (Philips; which I still have in front of me)... and maybe the Fitzwillam?...

I liked the Argerich samples (EMI), but, there's a LOT more to choose from now than in (ca.)1993, so, I'd be open to any well recorded and played performance. Odd couplings always get bonus points- or, you can just tell me who you like in the PT2 (again, I only have Beaux to go on).

I think the PQ is one of the most difficult balancing acts (sonically) in the whole repertoire? (sometimes the opening strings and/or piano intro can be quite jarring due to balance issues/acoustics)

[snyprrr]

Having found a snyprrr post I understand I felt the urge to quote it.
I like the Brodsky. They are more like Boulez would be if, god help us, he and his clones formed a quartet: slightly cooler and very precise.

I'm touched! 0:)

"Let me be... perfectly clear" The Manhattan are very sharp, and have a dry acoustic to match. If I remember, I liked them through 10 or 11. The Late SQs need their own particular profile. But, again, I thought their playing, coupled with their engineering, produced the best sounding 4 and 5 to my ears (these two particularly, and 6, suffer with less than sweet sound (because the are so delicate and precise)). The disc with 9 and 10 might be a second choice. I don't even think the Borodin recorded No.5 (or was it 4?).

The Brodskys have, of course, that wonderful Teldec sound, and are a more satisfying whole than the Manhattan, though I am certainly not one who thinks that you should ever get a whole set... sort of... uh... you know? "He who does No.1 perfectly screws up No.13",... or something like that.

The set that I researched most thoroughly at the time,... and not mentioned yet in these updates... is the Shostakovich on Olympia. At the time, I thought they had the measure of 12-15, and worked the wacky ones- 7-11,... I'm thinking their 4 and 5 fell to the Manhattan, and their 6 fell to the Brodsky (beauty of sound issues). Still, no one has stated a comparison with this group yet- are they not considered in the Top3-5 any more?? Karl? Sarge?hmm?

[aukhawk]

I think the PQ is one of the most difficult balancing acts (sonically) in the whole repertoire? (sometimes the opening strings and/or piano intro can be quite jarring due to balance issues/acoustics)

I think you're right.  I've always thought that piano and violin is a slightly unhappy combination, due to tuning issues - there's a lot of potential for conflict, perhaps Shostakovich chose to exploit that aspect of things rather than try to gloss over it.  See also, his very fine Cello Sonata (Gabetta is good, coupled with Cello Concerto 2) - to stray even further off topic, sorry! 

[amw]

I got the St Petersburg set on Hyperion which includes the Quintet and Trio as well. Along with listening through the Mandelring set that pretty much satiated my desire for Shostakovich chamber music. (Of course I remain a reasonably big believer in new repertoire rather than new performances, in spite of the 60 Schubert Quintets and 1000 Kreislerianas I've accumulated over the past six months or so)

The other performance of those two everyone (who likes Shostakovich) should hear is this one

[asin]B00005YOX9[/asin]

Yes, OK, the sound is bad, even by 1945 standards. But no one even tries to play them like this nowadays

[Drasko]

I'd be open to any well recorded and played performance.

It was also available as reissue on Elatus and on Ultima (that was 2 CDs with some quartets)

[North Star]

I got the St Petersburg set on Hyperion which includes the Quintet and Trio as well. Along with listening through the Mandelring set that pretty much satiated my desire for Shostakovich chamber music. (Of course I remain a reasonably big believer in new repertoire rather than new performances, in spite of the 60 Schubert Quintets and 1000 Kreislerianas I've accumulated over the past six months or so)

Now that is quite a lot...

[Karl Henning]

I should never have guessed there were that many!

That many performances, sure, but so many documents? I am staggered!

[snyprrr]

Ja, det kanne du.  God jul og Godt Nyttar til deg.

Men jeg kan ikke skrive svensk. Og jeg viller ikke. Etter tre Ar in Oslo, jeg kan bare leser "Lille Larven aldri mett". :-(

Hey Svenska- I was wondering if you would do a spot compare of SQ 4 for me (you ARE The Man here!). When it comes to Nos. 1, 4, 5, & 6, and especially 4 (and 5) I muuust have the Most Perfect Beauty. Obviously, any older set is automatically excluded- and of course I'm mainly concerned with the Danel-St.P-Pacifica-Hagen-Manderling-Sorrel-?!?-Challenge, or whatever other 4 (the Jerusalem were supposedly weak here?) that might be considered TheOne.

I have always hailed the Manhattan's 4-5 as a Singularly Perfect Record, but I was particularly hearing good things about the Sorrel in 4. No.4's opening MUST HAVE That Particular Feeling, and I felt that the Manhattan pulled it off in a most smooth way (and I have read how someone did not like their approach, I think compared to the Fitzies more aggressive approach), but a lot of the current samples say that most all modern groups understand that this is a most Classical piece. (I think 5 is his most experimental(Perfect, but not experimental...)- whatdaya think?- and- yes, I know it's not, buuut...)

And 6 needs the Most Wonderful Treatment (always liked Brodsky here)

[snyprrr]

SQ 4

No.4 has one of the most notoriously difficult openings to pull off without grating the ear with unwanted sawdust. It's slightly harder to underplay, but that has also happened. I have to lift up 4 as one of the Most Perfect SQs- I mean, it's Classical in shape, and exhibits a high degree of Composition- it's quite abstract even though it has the nickname 'Jewish', which it certainly is, relating to the Piano Trio.

If you're like me, then your SQs 1,4,5,6 need to be played somewhat differently than the others, mmm? But 4 and 5  especially are very special creatures (especially 5) and need to be thought of outside the context of a 'Set' or 'Cycle'. Only the very best overall performance and recording will do. The Hagen and the Sorrel have some pretty good samples here... what do you think?

SQ 5

I always thought that the Manhattan recording of 4 and 5 together was overwhelming. The two together, like 9 and 10 together (8 & 9) contain so much good stuff that they seem like two halves of a Symphony almost. 5, especially, is so unique, reminding me of a mining expedition into a cavern ravine, where one is swept up on a journey of sorts. 5 needs to have the absolutely most dedicated playing coupled with the greatest sound. The fact that we're somewhat in Symphony 10 territory is palpable in 5's overall atmosphere of tense exploration.

SQ 6

This one just needs to be... always liked Brodskys, not Emerson, none of the Oldies will do, I want Perfection in Every Deparment.

[George]

I am going to listen to the Danel set again. It's been awhile.

[snyprrr]

I am going to listen to the Danel set again. It's been awhile.

Please. I mean, I like the Danel, but I find them such a tight little Arditti-like crew, I just didn't think they'd  be a fit for 'normal' music. huh

[amw]

Now that is quite a lot...

It's more like 10 (Kempff, Anda, Argerich, Schuch, Perahia, Le Sage, Lonquich, Schiff... more I'm forgetting) but that doesn't sound as impressive... I'm not planning a Kreisleriana blind comp, I'm just trying to learn the damn thing. >.>

I can't remember anything about Shostakovich 5, if the Taneyev Quartet couldn't make me like it probably no one will, but I'll give StP's version a listen at some point. Haven't really touched that CD yet (5 + 7 + 9) since 7 is Taneyev's territory and 9, being 12's little brother, is where the Mandelrings shine.

[Brian]

I'm not planning a Kreisleriana blind comp, I'm just trying to learn the damn thing.

Hey, 2015 will need some blind comparisons.    I'm planning on doing a small-scale one for Beethoven's Op. 59 No. 3 quartet - maybe just 8-10 recordings.

[Brahmsian]

Hey, 2015 will need some blind comparisons.    I'm planning on doing a small-scale one for Beethoven's Op. 59 No. 3 quartet - maybe just 8-10 recordings.

Mmm, that is one dandy, Brian!