BaL 6.02.21 - Bartók: String Quartet No. 5.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My fondness for the Juilliard '63 set is generally something I regard as a personal idiosyncrasy, but even bearing that in mind, I do find them the best performers of this particular quartet, and by some distance. The Arcanto Quartett would be my second choice. I don't recall offhand any other recordings that stood out as something special, although the one I have listened to most often aside from those two appears to be the Hagen Quartet, so I'll hazard that it's probably also very good.

Not long to go. Having had the quartets on LP until recently, I’m now in the market for a digital version (by which I mean a CD!).

[verismissimo]

The Takacs seemed a very worthy winner.

But was the illustrated recording (Decca, 1990s, according to the broadcast) the same as the wonderful set I've had on LP for decades, bought in the 80s in Budapest (Hungaroton, 1984)?

[Pulcinella]

I know that my ears could benefit from a good syringing, but did anyone else find it really hard to hear what KM was saying? She seemed really dim in comparison with Andrew.
My Keller set (not mentioned?), recommended on this thread, arrived yesterday, so I hope to listen to them over the weekend.

[crb11]

The Takacs seemed a very worthy winner.

But was the illustrated recording (Decca, 1990s, according to the broadcast) the same as the wonderful set I've had on LP for decades, bought in the 80s in Budapest (Hungaroton, 1984)?

No, they are two different recordings (and with a different violin I and viola too). The Decca one was recorded in 1996. I haven't heard yours so have no idea how similar the two are.

[verismissimo]

I know that my ears could benefit from a good syringing, but did anyone else find it really hard to hear what KM was saying? She seemed really dim in comparison with Andrew.

Yes … So dim, I had to turn volume up every time she spoke and down as soon as the music started.

The Hagens were among the runners-up - a really good cycle IMO.

[Bryn]

I know that my ears could benefit from a good syringing, but did anyone else find it really hard to hear what KM was saying? She seemed really dim in comparison with Andrew.
My Keller set (not mentioned?), recommended on this thread, arrived yesterday, so I hope to listen to them over the weekend.

There were a few I was surprised not to hear mentioned, including the Fine Arts, whose survey of the quartets on Saga was the introduction to the 5th for many. That said, I think the relative merits of those discussed were illustrated very well.

[cloughie]

As with the LHQ Haydn Op. 76 set, the timings of the individual quartets do not play ball with numerical order over 2 CDs.

Amazing that Bartok did not bear in mind the need to get 3 SQs on each CD! No foresight that guy.

[verismissimo]

Amazing that Bartok did not bear in mind the need to get 3 SQs on each CD! No foresight that guy.

No, they really do fit on two CDs, but NOT NECESSARILY IN THE RIGHT ORDER.

[Pulcinella]

No, they really do fit on two CDs, but NOT NECESSARILY IN THE RIGHT ORDER.

The Kellers (which I've just listened to) go for 1-2-4/3-5-6 rather than the more usual (I think) 1-3-5/2-4-6.

[ostuni]

I was sorry the Arcadia Quartet never made it to her shortlist: very beautiful playing, and excellent recorded sound. But the Takacs (and also, I think, the Belcea) are probably more vivid and earthy, and her chosen examples today certainly showed the Takacs as worthy winners.

[visualnickmos]

The Kellers (which I've just listened to) go for 1-2-4/3-5-6 rather than the more usual (I think) 1-3-5/2-4-6.

I just listened to the Fine Arts Quartet (excellently remastered) and will listen to the Keller later. Rather surprised they didn'tgarner even a cursory mention.

[CallMePaul]

My usual complaint that the winner and runner-up are both download only applies yet again! When will reviewers and producers realise that many of us are just not interested in a virtual product? The Vegh performances are "out of stock at the UK distributor" according to Presto and I do not enjoy the Emersons (in this or any other repertoire)at all; indeed I was amazed to see them make the initial shortlist, let alone get "other recommended recordings" status. I did buy them many years ago on the basis of a Gramophone award but was very disappointed then and now. I was very surprised that the Hungarian Quartet, with Zoltan Szekely on 1st violin, did not even make the shortlist! I have them on LP and in my view are far superior to the Emersons. I am pleased to see that they are still on CD!

[Bryn]

. . . When will reviewers and producers realise that many of us are just not interested in a virtual product? . . .

In what way are pits in the reflective layer of a polycarbonate disc any less "virtual" than the same information stored on other media such as hard drives, USB memory sticks, SD cards, etc.?

[jayne lee wilson]

My usual complaint that the winner and runner-up are both download only applies yet again! When will reviewers and producers realise that many of us are just not interested in a virtual product? The Vegh performances are "out of stock at the UK distributor" according to Presto and I do not enjoy the Emersons (in this or any other repertoire)at all; indeed I was amazed to see them make the initial shortlist, let alone get "other recommended recordings" status. I did buy them many years ago on the basis of a Gramophone award but was very disappointed then and now. I was very surprised that the Hungarian Quartet, with Zoltan Szekely on 1st violin, did not even make the shortlist! I have them on LP and in my view are far superior to the Emersons. I am pleased to see that they are still on CD!

You an Amazon refusenik or something? Various Vegh and Takacs CD issues are around there, you may have to look a little harder for a good price...

Sad to see your comment on the Emerson.....I just posted (WAYLTN) on the pleasures The Haydn Project has given me, and their recent Schumann set is marvellous to these ears too....(despite my general preference for HIPP).......have you heard those?

God Knows, their very sound brings joy and beauty into the world, which can seem in short supply right now...

[Richard Barrett]

I don't much like the Emersons either... I'm sort of intrigued to hear the Takács, although I didn't take to their "highly praised" Beethoven.