Recordings That You Are Considering

[Florestan]

This set has blown me away last year, both performance- and sound-wise. It's a corker of a sleeper, really. Florestan's Stamp of Approval & Hall of Fame stuff.

[amw]

There is also Quatuor Ébène/Antoine Tamestit, which I have not yet listened to.

Update: I did listen to it. Sound is good if unrealistic, and not as compressed as their Beethoven was. Performances were very good. I immediately followed it with Takács Quartet/György Pauk for comparison, and continue to find the latter significantly better, despite worse sound and a few minor intonation issues. (The reasons have a lot to do with structural articulation and creating a sense of drama and narrative.) Ébène will evidently not become my new favourite. That said, people who like the ensemble should still check it out.

Two sets that have not been mentioned yet and whose sound and performance are very good are Orlando Quartet/Nobuko Imai on BIS and Ensemble Villa Musica on MDG.

I do know the latter, which is good but did not strike me as exceptional (and as far as I know has to obtained as five separate volumes). I don't know the former, but I'm sure it is very good.

This set has blown me away last year, both performance- and sound-wise. It's a corker of a sleeper, really. Florestan's Stamp of Approval & Hall of Fame stuff.

I have this as well but haven't listened to it yet. I know that like a lot of French EMI boxsets it is quite difficult to obtain these days (mine is a rip from a library copy) and the sound is early stereo, 1967-1968, although still perfectly good from the excerpts I heard.

[DavidW]

Having said this, is there any recommendations for Mozart String Quintets for great performances and great sound?

[Leo K.]

Thanks for your perspective.

Also considering getting recordings of these operas of Schubert and Schumann: Fierrabras and Genoveva, respectively. Any thoughts on them? From what I am told, the libretti of these works are absolutely atrocious. As someone who does not really care about operatic plots, that doesn't really concern me, and I'm curious to hear these huge works of unknown music from two of my favorite composers.

While I greatly admire Abbado's recording of Schubert's opera Fierrabras, I must admit that I was left with a slight sense of disappointment. Perhaps my expectations were set high but I found certain aspects of the opera to be less engaging than anticipated.

Other recordings of Fierrabras (are there any besides Abbado's?) may offer a different perspective that could resonate more with my taste and I would love to hear more.

I still treasure Fierrabras and Alfonso und Estrella however.

[JBS]

Update: I did listen to it. Sound is good if unrealistic, and not as compressed as their Beethoven was. Performances were very good. I immediately followed it with Takács Quartet/György Pauk for comparison, and continue to find the latter significantly better, despite worse sound and a few minor intonation issues. (The reasons have a lot to do with structural articulation and creating a sense of drama and narrative.) Ébène will evidently not become my new favourite. That said, people who like the ensemble should still check it out.
I do know the latter, which is good but did not strike me as exceptional (and as far as I know has to obtained as five separate volumes). I don't know the former, but I'm sure it is very good.
I have this as well but haven't listened to it yet. I know that like a lot of French EMI boxsets it is quite difficult to obtain these days (mine is a rip from a library copy) and the sound is early stereo, 1967-1968, although still perfectly good from the excerpts I heard.

I endorse this regarding the Quatour Ebene. The others are unknown to me.
Does anyone have an opinion about the Talich Quartet recordings?

[grocklin]

Quatuor Sine Nomine have a set of Mozart Quintets with very good sound quality IMO. The performances are good to my standards but I haven't done careful comparisons. I think the sound quality is notably ahead of older stuff. Curious what other people think.
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8039536--mozart-string-quintets-nos-1-6

[amw]

Quatuor Sine Nomine have a set of Mozart Quintets with very good sound quality IMO. The performances are good to my standards but I haven't done careful comparisons. I think the sound quality is notably ahead of older stuff. Curious what other people think.
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8039536--mozart-string-quintets-nos-1-6

Also endorse this recording yes. Think it's probably ideal for someone who wants modern instruments, modern sound and an unmannered, "natural" playing style, and thinks existing recordings they've heard are either too fast or too slow.

[DavidW]

Does anyone have an opinion about the Talich Quartet recordings?

Quite good, but not up to par with my all time favorite, Griller/Primrose.



I didn't mention it before since Franco prioritized SQ.

[Florestan]

I have this as well [Quatuor Heutling/Heinz-Otto Graf] but haven't listened to it yet. I know that like a lot of French EMI boxsets it is quite difficult to obtain these days (mine is a rip from a library copy) and the sound is early stereo, 1967-1968, although still perfectly good from the excerpts I heard.

They play with such warmth and geniality as to mellow my heart. Their KV 515, while retaining its melancholy mood, is the antipode of the Kuijken's: an ivy-surrounded ruined castle lit by a glowing sunset as opposed to a graveyard under heavy clouds after having been devastated by a hurricane. The sound is surprisingly good for its age. I was really spellbound.

I have it in FLAC. If you or anyone else want them, just PM me.

[Florestan]

Quite good, but not up to par with my all time favorite, Griller/Primrose.



I didn't mention it before since Franco prioritized SQ.

You're not the first to sing their praises. I've set it in seek-and-capture mode.

[Spotted Horses]

Quatuor Sine Nomine have a set of Mozart Quintets with very good sound quality IMO. The performances are good to my standards but I haven't done careful comparisons. I think the sound quality is notably ahead of older stuff. Curious what other people think.
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8039536--mozart-string-quintets-nos-1-6

After a quick (30 second) listen, I certainly agree that the audio is great and the performance style attractive.

[Mandryka]

It's become downloadable again, and the $ to £ rate is OK, so I'm wondering whether to take a punt.

[Florestan]

It's become downloadable again, and the $ to £ rate is OK, so I'm wondering whether to take a punt.

How many CDs?

[Mandryka]

How many CDs?

6 for 40 bucks - 30 squid.

[Florestan]

6 for 40 bucks - 30 squid.

Tempting.

[vers la flamme]

Worth hearing Messiaen play his own organ works? I have a few Messiaen organ recordings already, as played by Louis Thiry and Jennifer Bate. How is the sound?

[Madiel]

Having said this, is there any recommendations for Mozart String Quintets for great performances and great sound?

PS - I REALLY enjoy Alban Berg Quartet in the string quartets.

I personally have zero problem with the sound of the Talich recordings of the quintets (I have the La Dolce Volta version of them).

[Florestan]

I personally have zero problem with the sound of the Talich recordings of the quintets (I have the La Dolce Volta version of them).

At first sight I read this as La Dolce Vita --- and I instantly thought of Anita Ekberg in her prime. Quite Cosi fan tutte, actually.  

[Mandryka]

Worth hearing Messiaen play his own organ works? I have a few Messiaen organ recordings already, as played by Louis Thiry and Jennifer Bate. How is the sound?

Sound is fine. Obviously worth hearing! The one that's missing is for me the most interesting at the moment in a way -- Messiaen's recording of his Livre d'orgue.

[vers la flamme]

Sound is fine. Obviously worth hearing! The one that's missing is for me the most interesting at the moment in a way -- Messiaen's recording of his Livre d'orgue.

That is the Messiaen organ work I'm most interested in at the moment. I believe it is included in the 4CD set I pictured; here's the back cover: