Choose only ONE CYCLE, please. Make your choice CLEAR in your post, please. Make sure they recorded a FULL cycle, please.
THANK YOU!
All I have is Talich. :/
Talich 1
Vegh, stereo
Tolkien, mono
What, no "One Wellington's Victory to Rule Them All" thread?
;)
Gewandhaus Quartett.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416VnQMLWiL.jpg)
Talich 1
Budapest 51/52 1
Vegh - stereo 1
Gewandhaus 1
Well, I have not heard a huge number of these but I am plumping, perhaps nostalgically, for the first set I owned, at 18, and wore out. Hungarian Quartet 60s.
Emerson
Hey Dave - see that you're starting a poll and already have a bunch of single votes! ;D
For me, I own 2 complete sets: 1) Takacs Quartet; and 2) Alexander String Quartet - can I get a 1/2 vote for each? ;)
Well, then add the Alexanders to the list - Dave :)
Quartetto Italiano
Takacs Qt. for their magnificent Op. 135. Well, their whole set is great.
I'll go like this:
0.6 Quartetto Italiano
0.4 Takacs
:D
Talich 1
Budapest 51/52 1
Vegh - stereo 1
Gewandhaus 1
Italiano 1
Alexander 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea.
Talich 1
Budapest 51-52 1
Vegh - stereo 1
Gewandhaus 1
Italiano 1
Alexander 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Well, this isn't going to be clear-cut, now is it.
Quote from: Mn Dave on June 09, 2014, 02:50:13 PM
Talich 1
Budapest 51-52 1
Vegh - stereo 1
Gewandhaus 1
Italiano 1
Alexander 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Well, this isn't going to be clear-cut, now is it.
Having listened "in vain" to rather many different interpretations, the Vegh stereo set was the one, which "opened" these works to me, so i vote for Vegh stereo, even if I since then have got many more favorites.
Vegh - stereo 2
Talich 1
Budapest 51-52 1
Gewandhaus 1
Italiano 1
Alexander 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Quote from: Ken B on June 09, 2014, 01:15:13 PM
What, no "One Wellington's Victory to Rule Them All" thread?
;)
:) My vote is for the performance that sounds like scrunching paper of all scores of this work, tossed in a garbage and torched, forever erased from existence. :D
Alban Berg (EMI, studio)
Quote from: Mn Dave on June 09, 2014, 02:50:13 PM
Well, this isn't going to be clear-cut, now is it.
The essential
incomplete cycles (+ single disc)
Busch (Dutton)
Mosaïques
Hagen
Juilliard Op131 + Schubert D810 (Testament)
Vegh - stereo 2
Talich 1
Budapest 51-52 1
Gewandhaus 1
Italiano 1
Alexander 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Quote from: (: premont :) on June 09, 2014, 03:03:53 PM
Having listened "in vain" to rather many different interpretations, the Vegh stereo set was the one, which "opened" these works to me, so i vote for Vegh stereo, even if I since then have got many more favorites.
(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/hand-gestures/gimme-five-smiley-emoticon.gif)
Quote from: Mn Dave on June 09, 2014, 02:50:13 PMWell, this isn't going to be clear-cut, now is it.
Even though I selected Budapest 51/52, and stand firmly behind my selection, the Vegh stereo really is as close to a baseline set as I can imagine. A friend of mine who has a degree in music and plays both the viola and double bass, and who relied on the Emerson as her reference for years in Beethoven, said, after hearing the Vegh, that that she had never heard string quartet playing that sounded so natural.
Suske.
For some quartets, I prefer other groups (Mosaïques for No. 3, Alban Berg for No. 12) but overall Suske's performance is satisfying.
I wish Mosaïques will record a complete set, but probably no chance.
Vegh seems very interesting.
Végh is hard to go wrong with, though I didn't choose it either. They phrase everything in a very natural, disarming manner and achieve some extraordinary pianissimos—very intimate Beethoven, chamber music in the original sense. Highlights include a very good Op. 131 and the Cavatina of Op. 130.
This one is impossible. Take it or leave it, I can only say in good conscience:
Early: Takacs
Middle: Vegh (stereo)
Late: Hagen
Talich
Alexander
Vegh - stereo 2
Talich 2
Alexander 2
Budapest 51-52 1
Gewandhaus 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Suske 1
Pražák Quartet.
Quote from: Wanderer on June 10, 2014, 04:33:39 AM
Pražák Quartet.
Vegh - stereo 2
Talich 2
Alexander 2
Budapest 51-52 1
Gewandhaus 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Suske 1
Pražák 1
I shouldn't vote in this one, 'cause in this field I'm still a rookie, but I'm pigheaded and will vote for the Gewandhaus Quartet, for its consistency.
Vegh - stereo 2
Talich 2
Alexander 2
Gewandhaus 2
Budapest 51-52 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Suske 1
Pražák 1
How is "Vegh" pronounced?
Vay? Vedge?
Way? Wedge?
Quote from: Jay F on June 10, 2014, 07:23:46 AM
How is "Vegh" pronounced?
Vay? Vedge?
Way? Wedge?
I am changing my vote from Talich to Vegh (Vay, Veggie... whatever)
Quote from: Jay F on June 10, 2014, 07:23:46 AM
How is "Vegh" pronounced?
Vay? Vedge?
Way? Wedge?
It's officially written as 'Végh', because it was founded by the famous Hungarian violinist Sándor Végh.
My guess is that it sounds like 'Haig' in 'Alexander Haig' and then the first 'V' like the 'f' in 'fly', although maybe a bit more like the 'w' in the German word 'Weg'.
But any Hungarian will overrule this of course.
Quote from: springrite on June 10, 2014, 07:37:14 AM
I am changing my vote from Talich to Vegh (Vay, Veggie... whatever)
>:(
Vegh - stereo 3
Talich 1
Alexander 2
Gewandhaus 2
Budapest 51-52 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Suske 1
Pražák 1
Not to rub it in Dave, but shouldn't Talich be bumped down in the list, as it now only has one vote?
Quote from: George on June 10, 2014, 08:17:14 AM
Not to rub it in Dave, but shouldn't Talich be bumped down in the list, as it now only has one vote?
I want to change my vote from Talich to Hungarian.
>:D
I voted for the Hungarian
Quote from: Ken B on June 10, 2014, 08:24:18 AM
I want to change my vote from Talich to Hungarian.
>:D I voted for the Hungarian
;D ;D
I am afraid I got onto Dave's "traitors list"...
+1 Suske
Quote from: George on June 10, 2014, 08:17:14 AM
Not to rub it in Dave, but shouldn't Talich be bumped down in the list, as it now only has one vote?
Yah.
Vegh - stereo 3
Alexander 2
Gewandhaus 2
Suske 2
Talich 1
Budapest 51-52 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Pražák 1
Quote from: springrite on June 10, 2014, 08:26:10 AM
;D ;D
I am afraid I got onto Dave's "traitors list"...
;)
Quote from: Mn Dave on June 10, 2014, 08:29:00 AM
Yah.
Vegh - stereo 3
Alexander 2
Gewandhaus 2
Suske 2
Talich 1
Budapest 51-52 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Pražák 1
Shouldn't this be alphabetical? Shouldn't Talich come last?
>:D :laugh:
Quote from: Ken B on June 10, 2014, 08:33:09 AM
Shouldn't this be alphabetical? Shouldn't Talich come last?
>:D :laugh:
>:(
Quote from: Mn Dave on June 10, 2014, 08:33:57 AM
>:(
All is not lost. Someone might vote for the Zemlinsky.
I have to give the Gewandhaus another run. I remember being bored to tears the first time around.
Quote from: springrite on June 10, 2014, 09:32:50 AM
I have to give the Gewandhaus another run. I remember being bored to tears the first time around.
There's a fee after the second vote switch you know. >:D
Takacs
No love for the Tokyo on RCA? Not a vote for them; I haven't made it thru the box yet, but what I've heard is beautiful.
[asin]B008BOWG7C[/asin]
My goto set is the Juilliard 60s box that was issued by Sony France.
Quote from: Daverz on June 10, 2014, 06:44:01 PM
No love for the Tokyo on RCA? Not a vote for them; I haven't made it thru the box yet, but what I've heard is beautiful.
[asin]B008BOWG7C[/asin]
My goto set is the Juilliard 60s box that was issued by Sony France.
My own impression is that it's like several others I have, including the Guarnieri, Alban Berg, and Hungarian: as good as anyone else, but not perceptibly better.
One cycle that might deserve more consideration is the Artemis Quartet. Having voted for Takacs, I would place them second or third--depending on how I felt at the moment about Quarteto Italiano
Haven't heard enough complete sets to pick one here.
Vegh - stereo 3
Alexander 2
Gewandhaus 2
Suske 2
Talich 1
Budapest 51-52 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Pražák 1
Takacs 1
Julliard 60s 1
This is one severely Balkanized poll! 8)
Quote from: Daverz on June 10, 2014, 06:44:01 PM
My goto set is the Juilliard 60s box that was issued by Sony France.
I'd quite like to hear this, but it's proven impossible to find so far (for less than several hundred dollars anyway)
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on June 10, 2014, 07:28:08 PM
One cycle that might deserve more consideration is the Artemis Quartet. I would place them second or third...
Acting as the absent Scarpia's proxy, I nominate the Artemis. Make it so, Dave.
As for my own vote, I'm still deciding. I've spent the last few days refreshing my memory of various quartets. I'm surprised how much I've enjoyed the Emerson (their op.135 has always been my top choice but I seem to have paid less attention to other equally fine performances in their cycle). My vote will go to the Emerson or the very different Gewandhaus. Stand by.
Sarge
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on June 11, 2014, 05:23:26 AM
Acting as the absent Scarpia's proxy, I nominate the Artemis. Make it so, Dave.
Mmm...no. :)
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on June 11, 2014, 05:23:26 AMI'm surprised how much I've enjoyed the Emerson (their op.135 has always been my top choice but I seem to have paid less attention to other equally fine performances in their cycle). My vote will go to the Emerson or the very different Gewandhaus. Stand by.
Sarge
I ignored the Emerson Beethoven for years on account of its many bad reviews. My favorites had always been the Takacs and, before them, the first Lindsays. But I let someone take the Lindsays home one night, and I didn't get them back before I moved. I only played the Takacs a little, though I was impressed with the sound quality. And then last year, I bought a Trio box set of the Emersons' Schubert and loved it. So I tried their Beethoven. The clarity of sound made me play it a lot. It was really all I listened to for a month or so last year. If I had to choose just one, this would be it (I am the lone vote for the Emersons in this poll).
Quote from: Jay F on June 11, 2014, 08:57:56 AM
I ignored the Emerson Beethoven for years on account of its many bad reviews. My favorites had always been the Takacs and, before them, the first Lindsays. But I let someone take the Lindsays home one night, and I didn't get them back before I moved. I only played the Takacs a little, though I was impressed with the sound quality. And then last year, I bought a Trio box set of the Emersons' Schubert and loved it. So I tried their Beethoven. The clarity of sound made me play it a lot. It was really all I listened to for a month or so last year. If I had to choose just one, this would be it (I am the lone vote for the Emersons in this poll).
I have only their late quartets—if the rest of the cycle is of comparable quality, I'm sure it's top-notch!
Artemis
Quote from: Henk on June 11, 2014, 11:00:11 AM
Artemis
Vegh - stereo 3
Alexander 2
Gewandhaus 2
Suske 2
Talich 1
Budapest 51-52 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Pražák 1
Takacs 1
Julliard 60s 1
Artemis 1
Quote from: Mn Death Dealer on June 11, 2014, 11:23:53 AM
Vegh - stereo 3
Alexander 2
.
.
Takacs 1
Julliard 60s 1
Artemis 1
Nice to see the
Takacs in the listing - my first complete set; even saw them 'live' @ Carnegie Hall doing a number of Ludwig's SQs - my only other set is the
Alexander SQ which was my vote - Dave :)
So many...Emerson, Vegh, QI, Tokyo, Alexander, Takacs...
I pick Takacs...
Quote from: G. String on June 12, 2014, 09:28:48 AM
So many...Emerson, Vegh, QI, Tokyo, Alexander, Takacs...
I pick Takacs...
Vegh - stereo 3
Alexander 2
Gewandhaus 2
Suske 2
Takacs 2
Talich 1
Budapest 51-52 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Pražák 1
Julliard 60s 1
Artemis 1
Quote from: Mn Dave on June 12, 2014, 09:32:16 AM
Vegh - stereo 3
Alexander 2
Gewandhaus 2
Suske 2
Takacs 2
Talich 1
Budapest 51-52 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Pražák 1
Julliard 60s 1
Artemis 1
I like this result. So many groups have brought some insight.
Alexander String Quartet voters need to specify which version--on Arte Nova or on Foghorn Classics.
Quote from: Manos on June 12, 2014, 07:34:21 PM
Alexander String Quartet voters need to specify which version--on Arte Nova or on Foghorn Classics.
Of course & good point - the version I was referring to was their second recording of these works on Foghorn Classics - Dave :)
(http://giradman.smugmug.com/Other/Classical-Music/i-cDsmZDt/0/O/Beethoven_SQ_Alexanders.jpg)
Suske
Budapest SQ (51-52)
Quote from: Moonfish on June 16, 2014, 10:52:32 PM
Budapest SQ (51-52)
Vegh - stereo 3
Suske 3
Alexander 2
Gewandhaus 2
Budapest 51-52 2
Takacs 2
Talich 1
Italiano 1
Emerson 1
Hungarian 1
Belcea 1
Alban Berg (EMI, studio) 1
Pražák 1
Julliard 60s 1
Artemis 1
Alexander (foghorn)
Gewandhaus
Fourway tie for first
Two tied for fifth
Nineway tie for seventh
And you thought the World Cup was exciting.
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on June 19, 2014, 08:21:00 PM
Fourway tie for first
Two tied for fifth
Nineway tie for seventh
Good music brings out the best in musicians.
I have 'only' 6 quartet integrals, and they're all (very) satisfying. I almost could have picked either one.
Au contraire to orchestral works, there is no 'boss', no 'ruler'. In chamber music one really has to co-operate and listen very carefully to one another. All these ensemble musicians have been working together for so many years, digging deep into their pieces during lengthy rehearsals, that they really understand how to form one team.
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on June 19, 2014, 08:21:00 PM
And you thought the World Cup was exciting.
It is, isn't it?
;D
I've been listening to the Takacs Quartet ever since someone voted for them. I would replace my existing vote for the Emerson SQ with the Takacs SQ, if possible. Why can't they all be "the ONE"? Why does there have to be a "ONE"? :o
Quote from: Jay F on June 23, 2014, 03:29:30 PM
I've been listening to the Takacs Quartet ever since someone voted for them. I would replace my existing vote for the Emerson SQ with the Takacs SQ, if possible. Why can't they all be "the ONE"? Why does there have to be a "ONE"? :o
Because "17 to rule them all" sounds silly.
Quote from: mszczuj on June 16, 2014, 10:47:28 PM
Suske
Excellent! Tean Suske is now tied for 1st!! Go Team Suske!!
Frankly, because of temperament, doesn't one need BOTH Vegh and Suske?
Plus, Suske gets extra points for coming out of nowhere... the get the WTF Award!
I'm lobbying anyone who hasn't voted, or would like to change to Suske, all I ask is that you think about it. Consider all things, - consistency, idiomatic, doing cool things, acceptable sound, the feel of live music making,- the list goes on. As far as just plain old reliability and dependability and freshness, you can't beat Suske!
(paid for by Friends of Suske for Poll)
Juilliard, easily. None of the others come remotely close.
Quote from: Peregrine on June 24, 2014, 01:12:44 PM
Juilliard, easily. None of the others come remotely close.
Have a feeling you'd be along to say that! $:)
Quote from: George on June 24, 2014, 01:14:01 PM
Have a feeling you'd be along to say that! $:)
Haha. Predictable. ;)