Our Summer BAL 45: Bartok Quartets

[Richard Barrett]

Well, he was from Llanelli, wasn't he?

[Welsh accent] Bloody riffraff down there they are. [/Welsh accent]

[BBMmk2]

Just heard a cd as part of the Arcadia Quartet complete set. Stunning. Beefy, have you heard this recording, from Chandos.

[Bryn]

Just heard a cd as part of the Arcadia Quartet complete set. Stunning. Beefy, have you heard this recording, from Chandos.

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/bart%C3%B3k-complete-string-quartets-arcadia-quartet

Disc 1 has the odd numbered quartets, presented chronologically. Disc 2 has the evens, likewise.

[Beef Oven!]

I haven't heard the Arcadia Quartet performances. I'm a bit of a glutton for Bartok sets, so I'm tempted to buy it (download).

The Gramophone review that Bryn links to seems ultimately ambivalent.

[Bryn]

I haven't heard the Arcadia Quartet performances. I'm a bit of a glutton for Bartok sets, so I'm tempted to buy it (download).

The Gramophone review that Bryn links to seems ultimately ambivalent.

Indeed. Looks like it might not scare the horses. I do intend to stream from QOBUZ though.

[Beef Oven!]

Indeed. Looks like it might not scare the horses. I do intend to stream from QOBUZ though.

I guess that as part of a way to convince myself it's ok to buy another recording of this cycle, I'm thinking that I might enjoy the possibility that " .....this spacious, big-hearted vision of Bartók as poet, dreamer and humourist has something distinctive and beautiful to say."

As an aside, I really don't like the way many reviewers assume that a 'spikey' performance or a 'difficult' composition will put people off, as if listeners are faint-hearted and must be gently 'brought along' on so much 20/21 century music.

[BBMmk2]

Indeed. Looks like it might not scare the horses. I do intend to stream from QOBUZ though.

Sounded great to me!

[Richard Barrett]

" .....this spacious, big-hearted vision of Bartók as poet, dreamer and humourist has something distinctive and beautiful to say."

That's one of those statements I come across quite often in reviews where my first thought is "yes, whatever" and my second is "but what does that even mean?" These days I'd much rather read the accounts of people on this forum than those of "professionals".

[Stanfordian]

I guess that as part of a way to convince myself it's ok to buy another recording of this cycle, I'm thinking that I might enjoy the possibility that " .....this spacious, big-hearted vision of Bartók as poet, dreamer and humourist has something distinctive and beautiful to say."

As an aside, I really don't like the way many reviewers assume that a 'spikey' performance or a 'difficult' composition will put people off, as if listeners are faint-hearted and must be gently 'brought along' on so much 20/21 century music.

You are spot on Beefy,

I went from Barry White straight to the Bartok string quartets. I didn't see it as Soul and twentieth-century Classical, it was just great music to me.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

You are spot on Beefy,
I went from Barry White straight to the Bartok string quartets. I didn't see it as Soul and twentieth-century Classical, it was just great music to me.

You're not the only one, Stanf - I had many teenage "A"-level Music students whose entry into the Musics of the Western Classical Traditions was the Bartok Fourth Quartet. ("Wow! This is like Hendrix!" one notable response.) The sparks from Bartok's frenetic clog dances light the flames for a whole new lifetime experience of Music for many people.

I wonder if the reviewers' expectations of their readers might be partly based on a widespread idea that "Classical" Music is "chill-out", soft-focussed, easy-listening stuff - judging by many of the "entries" in the "Classical Charts" when I saw them a few years ago.

[Beef Oven!]

That's one of those statements I come across quite often in reviews where my first thought is "yes, whatever" and my second is "but what does that even mean?" These days I'd much rather read the accounts of people on this forum than those of "professionals".

Same here - and that's part of the reason why I quoted directly from the "professional".

I have made an assumption here that what's meant is that the performance is less grim and emotionally unrelenting as some can be. This set might hit the spot when I'm up for a more sunny, possibly superficial listen.

[BBMmk2]

Same here - and that's part of the reason why I quoted directly from the "professional".

I have made an assumption here that what's meant is that the performance is less grim and emotionally unrelenting as some can be. This set might hit the spot when I'm up for a more sunny, possibly superficial listen.

Superficial listen with Bartok’s String quartets, Beefy?

[Beef Oven!]

You are spot on Beefy,

I went from Barry White straight to the Bartok string quartets. I didn't see it as Soul and twentieth-century Classical, it was just great music to me.

[Beef Oven!]

Superficial listen with Bartok’s String quartets, Beefy?

Yes, good point BBM!

I need to explain.

I listen to 2/3 of Bartok's string quartets virtually every day. I have 20 sets ranging from the Végh Quartet's goulash-sodden authenticity, to the ice-cool, razor sharp Ferrari passenger seat Emersons. I really enjoy all the different approaches. So a sunny-uplands, honorary-C major dreamily poetic set, really captures my imagination.

So I guess I'm really meaning a superficial engagement by the listener.

[Bryn]

Just a little reminder not to restrict oneself to complete surveys of the Bartok quartets. The Talich Quartet's (Collins) recordings of 1, 2, 5 and 6 are well worth seeking out, as, perhaps even more so, is Brooklyn Rider in Number 2. The Talichs also recorded all six for Supraphon, but those have never made it to CD, as far as I am aware.