BaL 29.09.12 Janacek's 2 string quartets

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

09:30 Building a Library

Ivan Hewett with a personal recommendation of recordings of Janacek's 2 string quartets

Available recordings of the two quartets:-
Alban Berg Quartett
Dante Quartet
Hagen Quartet
Janáček Quartet
Leipzig String Quartet
Mandelring Quartet
Martinu Quartet
Medici String Quartet
New Helsinki Quartet
Orpheus Quartet
Panocha Quartet
Pavel Haas Quartet
Quatuor Diotima
Raphael Quartet
Schoenberg Quartet
Skampa Quartet
Vlach Quartet Prague



No 1 only:-

Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti (arr. for string orchestra
Casal Quartet
Henschel Quartett
Janáček Chamber Orchestra (arr. for string orchestra)
Schulhoff Quartet
Smetana Quartet

[salymap]

09:30 Building a Library

Ivan Hewett with a personal recommendation of recordings of Janacek's 2 string quartets

I really enjoy both of these quartets. I have no 1 on an old Heliador LP, played by the Janacek Quartet and the other on an old cassette. I must record the programme

The cassette is of the Takacs Quartet.

[Flay]

Excellent. Peter Paul Nash's choice on 15th January 2000 was the Panocha Quartet (SUPRAPHON SU 0215-2) recorded in 1995.

Have the Ebène Quartet recorded them?

[Keraulophone]

Visiting Prague a few years ago, CDs were so cheap that I treated myself to a suitcase-full (plus a new suitcase), which included half a dozen versions of Janacek's SQs (incl. the excellent Panocha, mentioned above). It's such powerful stuff that I don't think I've yet heard a performance, recorded or live, which has failed to impress. Much looking forward to this BaL.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It's such powerful stuff that I don't think I've yet heard a performance, recorded or live, which has failed to impress.

Much looking forward to this BaL.

[amateur51]

I completely agree with the wave of enthusiasm for these pieces - they are true wonders of the quartet repertoire - but I would urge anyone who has not yet heard them 'live' to do so as a matter of urgency. I've always come away from a concert performance totally shaken by what I've heard. Great stuff

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I completely agree with the wave of enthusiasm for these pieces - they are true wonders of the quartet repertoire - but I would urge anyone who has not yet heard them 'live' to do so as a matter of urgency. I've always come away from a concert performance totally shaken by what I've heard. Great stuff

... and welcome back, ammy: hope the holiday was utterly enjoyable!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Update: I've added a list of available recordings in #1.

[Bryn]

Do any, besides the Quatuor Diotima, use the new Barenreiter urtext score, or include a reconstruction of the version of number 2 with a viola d'amore part?

Oh, and regarding the Smetena Quartet, there is this:



for Number 2.

[visualnickmos]

Thanks again for your complete listing Alpen - that is always so useful. Don't know how you can do it so quickly!

Yes - two excellent SQs; I only have the New Helsinki which I enjoy immensely

[Flay]

Update: I've added a list of available recordings in #1.

That answers my question about the Ebènes. It's a surprisingly small list. No Pavel Haas either?

[Bryn]

I am somewhat surprised to find the Talich Quartet's recording currently out of the catalogue.

[vinteuil]

Update: I've added a list of available recordings in #1.

... Many thanks for this.

I don't know whether the Gabrieli qtt is still available - their 1977 recording of both quartets was included in the decca 5 CD box of Janáček chamber music & orchestral works.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There may be other versions in the large, multiple CD boxes.

[Don Petter]

Ref #1

The Smetana Quartet have recorded the Second Quartet, available on Testament SBT1075.

In addition, their other recording of both quartets, from 1955, on Supraphon, is available on a CD or download from Pristine (PACM046).