BaL 14.03.20 - Ravel: String Quartet in F major

**LMcD** · 06-03-20, 11:45

Ravel's quartet always transports me to a sunny afternoon on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean. I currently have recordings by the Briitten, Ebene and Bartok Quartets.

**Barbirollians** · 06-03-20, 11:47

Quartetto Italiano -unsurpassed IMO.

**Alain Maréchal** · 06-03-20, 11:50

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

9.30
Building a Library
Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite recording of Ravel's String Quartet.

When did it change from "suggests a preferred recording"? A favourite is not the same thing. I might encourage hearing my favourite recording, but would not suggest you buy it.

**LMcD** · 06-03-20, 12:00

The Britten Quartet recording is available as a CD from World of Books and other online sources. The couplings are 2 works by RVW: 'On Wenlock Edge' with Philip Langridge and Howard Shelley, and the String Quartet in G Minor. CDC 7 54346 2. Recorded in Abbey Road in 1990 and 1991.
The same goes for the Bartok Quartet, but it's rather pricey.

**verismissimo** · 06-03-20, 12:36

I realise that I've been meaning to acquire the recording by the Quatuor Ebene for ten years or so. So that's now done.

I'll be listening to it, plus the Lindsays (1994), the Juilliards (1973) and two nla recordings (it seems) - the Vlach (1963) and the Via Nova (1971).

**gurnemanz** · 06-03-20, 13:38

Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post

Quartetto Italiano -unsurpassed IMO.

I fondly remember the LP coupled with the Debussy. The CD version I got was he the Bartok Qtt on Hungaroton, which is very good and remains my only CD.

Petersen on Capriccio were Ivan Hewett's first choice in 2002 with Ad Libitum on Naxos as budget alternative.

In 2009 the Ebene Qtt on Erato (mentioned above) were the first (and only) choice for Fauré - generously coupled (80 mins) with Ravel and Debussy - also Gramophone Record of the Year that year. It was also "recommended" last year in Laura Tunbridge's Debussy Quartet BaL (Arcanto Quartett on Harmonia Mundi were first choice). I don't know this recording (yet) but the disc certainly looks like a potential winner.

**LMcD** · 06-03-20, 14:50

Originally posted by verismissimo View Post

I realise that I've been meaning to acquire the recording by the Quatuor Ebene for ten years or so. So that's now done.

I'll be listening to it, plus the Lindsays (1994), the Juilliards (1973) and two nla recordings (it seems) - the Vlach (1963) and the Via Nova (1971).

I recently bought the Ebene from our local library for £1.
Am I right in thinking that the Bartok Quartet's recording on White Label was originally issued on Hungaroton?

**visualnickmos** · 06-03-20, 17:43

I look forward to this one (notwithstanding two-hander presentation)

Just checked versions I have ; Parrenin EMI, Italiano Philips, Keller Apex, Melos DG, Carmina - a rather tatty, but actually rather good box 'Simply Debussy' Kodaly Naxos

Hard to say a personal 'fav'.... although the Italiano and Parrenin are possibles.

**richardfinegold** · 06-03-20, 17:44

My first recording was the Melos Qt. on DG, and it’s still my prefered, don’t know if it’s the ‘best’. I do prefer it to the Quartetto Italiano, whom I recently acquired as part of a big box purchase

**Serial_Apologist** · 06-03-20, 17:47

I seem to remember that Ravel felt guilty and told Debussy that he might have taken too much in the way of ideas from his quartet, but that Debussy reassured him that this was not at all the case? This would have been while they were still friends, of course.

**Beresford** · 06-03-20, 19:16

I heard a broadcast of Ravel's quartet on Czech Radio by the Wihan quartet, which struck me as very musically sensitive, a pleasure to listen to, after the high energy approach of the Ebene - good in it's way - but I recently gave away their CD. Unfortunately the CD of the Wihan, from 1992, no longer seems to be available, even as a download.

**Bryn** · 06-03-20, 19:21

One copy of Wihan CD at Discogs.

**Serial_Apologist** · 06-03-20, 19:53

Originally posted by Bryn View Post

One copy of Wihan CD at Discogs.

Not Wuhan, in case anybody is worried.

**Bryn** · 07-03-20, 01:43

Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post

Not Wuhan, in case anybody is worried.

Since you mention that, it's COVID-19, not Corvid-19 as some reporters appear to enunciate it. Nothing to crow about.

BaL 14.03.20 - Ravel: String Quartet in F major

BaL 14.03.20 - Ravel: String Quartet in F major

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