Schumann String Quartets

[Guest]

I am looking for a recording of these. I have the Zehetmair Quartet's recording of 1&3, which is great, but as far as I know they haven't completed the set. Any suggestions, especially for no. 2?

[Bryn]

For all three Op. 41 Quartets I would suggest the Eroica Quartet. Out of stock direct from amazon.co.uk, but there are new and used copies available at sensible prices via their marketplace.

[Stanfordian]

I am looking for a recording of these. I have the Zehetmair Quartet's recording of 1&3, which is great, but as far as I know they haven't completed the set. Any suggestions, especially for no. 2?

Hiya DrT,

In their 2001 recording of the first and third quartets the Zehetmair Quartet led by Thomas Zehetmair the playing is wonderfully dramatic and exciting. If I’m not mistaken the players play these scores from memory and the recording was the recipient of several prestigious awards on ECM New Series.

In addition I greatly admire the refined and expressive period-instrument accounts from the Eroica Quartet recorded in 1999 at the Skywalker studio, Marin County, California on Harmonia Mundi. The Eroica release includes Schumann’s initial thoughts on his F minor Quartet as shown on the manuscripts held at the Heinrich Heine Institute, Dusseldorf.

Also most worthy of consideration is the appealing and stylishly performed release by the Fine Arts Quartet on Naxos.

I've just remembered another fine set of Schumann's 3 string quartets from the Melos Quartet of Stuttgart. Recorded in 1986/87 at Zentralsaal, Bamberg, Germany the Melos set also includes the 3 Brahms string quartets on a reissued set on Newton Classics that were originally released on Deutsche Grammophon.

[MickyD]

For all three Op. 41 Quartets I would suggest the Eroica Quartet. Out of stock direct from amazon.co.uk, but there are new and used copies available at sensible prices via their marketplace.

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Bryn.

[Barbirollians]

The new Doric recordings have rightly been raved about IMO.

[richardfinegold]

I just heard the St Lawrence Qt in 41/3 on the radio last night and enjoyed it immensely

[mathias broucek]

Let's not forget the Italians. Their #3 is stunning.

[aeolium]

Let's not forget the Italians. Their #3 is stunning.

No indeed, wonderful performances. I also like the Cherubini Quartet on EMI (there's a cheap Gemini set plus the Piano Quintet with Christian Zacharias).

[teamsaint]

Any advance on the above recommendations , over the last few years?

[jayne lee wilson]

Absolutely! This above all other (even the Eroicas, my previous favourite... even the award winning Zehetmairs....)
Bear in mind they use the original editions (the only recording to do so), and you'll notice subtle differences in all of them, but not so dramatic as to be too disconcerting to those very familiar with the works - in fact it should only intensify your involvement, given the intensity, subtlety and beauty of the performances. For me they really do have everything.



Roaming around Qobuz HiFi trying other recordings, nothing came close to this one. There's a purity about it; a faithfulness to letter and spirit. You'll probably have to buy it though, as MDG are pretty mean with their streaming availability: greyed out. Ignore the Qobuz Critique, which gets it completely wrong.

[pastoralguy]

I picked up the Hagen Quartet's recording of the second and third 4tets recently in Oxfam. Iirc, a rather lacklustre review in Gramophone but I think they sound terrific. These are not works I know well and I really should get to know them better.

[teamsaint]

Absolutely! This above all other (even the Eroicas, my previous favourite... even the award winning Zehetmairs....)
Bear in mind they use the original editions (the only recording to do so), and you'll notice subtle differences in all of them, but not so dramatic as to be too disconcerting to those very familiar with the works - in fact it should only intensify your involvement, given the intensity, subtlety and beauty of the performances. For me they really do have everything.



Roaming around Qobuz HiFi trying other recordings, nothing came close to this one. There's a purity about it; a faithfulness to letter and spirit. You'll probably have to buy it though, as MDG are pretty mean with their streaming availability: greyed out. Ignore the Qobuz Critique, which gets it completely wrong.

Thanks Jayne, definitely on my list to listen / buy now.

( I don't think the quartets have ever featured in BaL).