Bartok's String Quartets

[AndyD.]

Needing reccomendations on Bartok's String Quartets. I'm looking for a full set, with plenty of bite where needed (for instance, the 4th).

Thanks so much in advance for any help.

[Josquin des Prez]

I don't know about bite, but if you need contrapuntal perfection, get the Tokyo on DG. For bite, get the Julliard on Sony.

[AndyD.]

I don't know about bite, but if you need contrapuntal perfection, get the Tokyo on DG. For bite, get the Julliard on Sony.

You know, I've read that same opinion about the Tokyo from several sources. I've also read that the Tokyo is tops, period.

[Josquin des Prez]

They are the best for me, but of course, you have to make your own mind. Just make sure its the set on DG, not the one on RCA. The set tends to go out of print rather often, but it should be available on P2P, probably on emule.

[Brahmsian]

Overall Andy, I'd go with the Emerson SQ.  Absolutely fantastic!!

However, my favorite performance of the 4th quartet (my personal favorite) is by Takacs.  It's smoking! 

[kishnevi]

has a good deal of bite to it

[Daverz]

The 1963 Juilliard recordings are the classic set.   The link is to the only international release of the 1963 set that I'm aware of, despite the fact that the slipcover photo is not of the 1963 personnel. 

[mjwal]

I wish I could insert images like others do - I am regrettably incompetent in this field
You can get the Juilliard on Amazon.de for between 13 and 30 €. I have the CBS LPs, but can only play them in the summer, so if I listen to Bartók it's the Tokyo or Emerson I choose (both DG - I prefer the latter). I would like to hear the Vegh, since the Vegh and the Hungarian Qts are my favourites in late Beethoven. I very much like the live #3, 5 and 6 by the latter on that M&A box. I got to know the Bartók quartets with the Fine Arts Quartet on Saga LPs, which I no longer have but hold in fond memory.

[Cato]

The 1963 Juilliard recordings are the classic set.   The link is to the only international release of the 1963 set that I'm aware of, despite the fact that the slipcover photo is not of the 1963 personnel.

Agreed: and check out their intonation of the quarter-tones in the Sixth Quartet, the third movement.

[SonicMan46]

I wish I could insert images like others do - I am regrettable incompetent in this field
...... I would like to hear the Vegh, since the Vegh and the Hungarian Qts are my favourites in late Beethoven....

Mjwal - easy to insert images - but now I'm curious about the Vegh - Amazon has 2 offerings, i.e. a 1954 'mono' recording on 2 discs & another box on 3 discs - not sure about the latter's recording date(s)?

For myself, I own the Emerson set and an inexpensive one w/ the Keller Quartet (image below) - excellent review on the latter HERE - 

   

[AndyD.]

One of the things that I find fascinating about Bartok's music is the way he often deviates from the standard major and minor modes.

It's funny: I first encountered this deviation in the music of bands like Slayer, who admitted that they didn't know exactly what they were doing when they mixed up major and minor, they wrote mostly by ear.

Anyhoo, thanks so much for all the recomendations. I think I'm going to ultimately grab the Tokyo and the Emerson for now, and wait for a good deal on the classic Juillard.

[mjwal]

Easy - but how?
That's the old and the new Vegh. I don't know which one to go for either - they were technically at their best in the earlier recording, I believe.
I have done a little test with the recordings I have at my disposal of the 5th quartet, which I regard as the greatest of the 20th century. I listened to the first movement: with its extremes of force and lightly dancing melos, it should be able to serve synecdochically for the whole set.
I started with the LP of the Juilliards: very bright-toned, acidulous even, lacking in oomph from the bottom to my ears. After the sharply dramatic but not very powerful statement of the opening theme (1st subject?) and the little dancing bridge before the repeat of the opening, the folkloristic second subject is almost prissily precise but uninvolved. Later on there are some incredibly well managed soft but clear pizzicati. Perfectly played - but almost more like Stravinsky. Perhaps the CD remastering has given the sound more body and colour? The live recording by the Hungarians, by contrast, slashes into the work with almost doomy power: I think immediately of "There is a tide in the affairs of men/ That, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune" - or catastrophe, of course. The Hungarians go with that flood, and not even the relative relaxation of the second subject holds them up: where the Juilliards contrast, they plead passionately. The recording is older and mono, of course, but this is much more in your face, though subtle touches (plinks and plonks) tend to go under a bit. The Tokyo team offer power, depth, contrast and great colouristic effects - they are far better recorded than the aforementioned, they may have slightly less idiomatic feeling than the Hungarians but they are more interested in rhythmic and timbral differentiation. Interestingly, the Emerson tend to replicate the Juilliard overriding concern with precision, but with a much better recording - and their slashing chords with the repetition of the main theme are superbly biting. I admire them - they seem almost to dissect the score, though without skimping on expression - but want to go on listening to the Tokyo or Hungarian quartets. I would like to hear a modern performance that picks up the interpretative stance of the Hungarians, though.
P.S. I would like to point out that Zóltan Székely, the leader of the Hungarian Quartet, was the violinist at the premiere of Bartók's Violin Concerto (conducted by Mengelberg), one of the really significant recorded documents of the 20th century. If you don't know it: run, don't walk!

[david-jw]

The later Vegh recording- the one with the architectural photo on the cover- was recorded in 1972. I havent heard the earlier mono one, so can't compare.

For "bite" I like the Takacs discs.

[Scarpia]

I have not listened to the complete cycle yet, but from what I have heard nothing beats this one:



My one reservation is sound quality.  The circa 1960 recording is too bright, lacks warmth, as is typical of some DG recordings of that era.  Also, "edge" is not the characteristic that they emphasize, so it might not be the one you are looking for.

[Todd]

For "bite" I like the Takacs discs.

Which Takacs recording?

There is no definitive set, but the Emerson have never been better than in this repertoire; the Vegh stereo set, while not up to the best sets technically, has a sound that no other sets produce (the mono set just is not as good); and the Takacs Decca set has plenty of polish and ruggedness in equal measure.  The Tokyo DG set sounds more pointed, if you will, but there's something I can't quite place my finger in when listening to this set - it sounds a bit strange.  For the Juilliard, I have the second and third sets, and have heard the Fourth from the 1940s cycles, and based on that, I'd say go for the earliest cycle.  If that's not available, the second cycle is the better of the later two cycles.  The Hungarian Quartet on DG are quite fine, especially in the earlier quartets; the Hagen are even more pointed than the Tokyo and more technically polished and intense than the Emerson, but something goes missing; and the recent Belcea set is good as well, and nicely fiery in some places. Do stay away from the Pederecki Quartet unless you like listening to Bartok through a somewhat Brahmsian filter.

Forced to pick just one, I'd say the Takacs on Decca.

[AndyD.]

Looks like I'm going to be right in grabbing the Emerson for now. Plus, the price is right.

[Mandryka]

What about Tatrai -- with all their grey shading?

I enjoyed them in the 3rd quite recently. But then, because of this discussion, listened to them in the 3rd movement of the 6th. I thought was much flatter compared with Juilliards 1960s.

[david-jw]

Which Takacs recording?

Yes it was the Decca recording I meant 

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

It's funny, reading this thread, to reflect on how the reputation of recordings changes.

When the Emerson set was released (1988 I think), it got lots of ecstatic reviews. Some years later, it was regularly trashed on forums like this. Now, it's being widely praised again.

As for me, I've had the set for over 10 years and have been generally happy with it - but then I have no other sets to compare it to.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I've always been a big fan of the Takacs (Decca) with their wide dynamic range and wonderful color, without sacrificing an ounce of intensity (and bite).

The Emersons score in the bite department and have wonderful insight.

The stereo Vegh in this company doesn't have all that much bite but makes up for it in homespun warmth, if anyone's after that (they take three discs).