10 String Quartets - a list of favourites (à la Salymap)

[antongould]

Oh, but what about Boccherini?

Very good see you. I hope you are bearing up to this cold weather.

Even in a few short days I do find my list a little, shall we say, narrow as I suppose 10 always will be. Quite by chance I downloaded a double CD of the Quartetto Italiano of String Quartets by Beethoven, Boccherini and Haydn. But to go off on a bit of a tangent - I know Lady Sidcup is allowed but she's a National Treasure - the track titles are in Italian and they only have Opus Numbers and no composer so I have had to resort to Wiki not being able, as a National Disgrace, to differentiate by ear.
This I find is not uncommon with downloads.......

I find Boccherini didn't just compose a couple of String Quartets - any special recommendations?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I've been trying to do something with this since it started - I even tried Opus numbers, but had to include pieces I'd never heard! So, how about this for "10 Favourite String Quartets"?:

1) Ardittis
2) Diotima
3) Takacs
4) Talich
5) Lindsays
6) Smith
7) Jack
8) Pacifica
9) Maggini
10) La Salle

... Bygger! I didn't mention the Budapests, Fitzwilliams, Busch, Juilliard, Alban Berg, Hungarian, Tokyo, Mosaiques, Veghs ... I'll need another go: this is still impossible!

[Flay]

Here's mine:

1) Janáček's No. 1, "Kreutzer Sonata"
2) Haydn No. 67 in F major, Op. 77, No. 2
3) Ravel in F (wild card: not numbered)
4) Mozart No. 15 K. 421 (5-1=4 )
5) Schumann Op 41 No 3
6) Schubert No. 15 in G major, D. 887
7) Brahms Op. 51 No. 1 in C minor (5+1+1)
8) Shostakovich No. 8 in C minor Op. 110
9) Beethoven No. 7 in F Op. 59, No. 1 (Razumovsky) (59 - 7² = 10 - 1 = 9 )
10) Debussy Op. 10 in G minor

[Thropplenoggin]

Here's mine:

1) Janáček's No. 1, "Kreutzer Sonata"
2) Haydn No. 67 in F major, Op. 77, No. 2
3) Ravel in F (wild card: not numbered)
4) Mozart No. 15 K. 421 (5-1=4 )
5) Schumann Op 41 No 3
6) Schubert No. 15 in G major, D. 887
7) Brahms Op. 51 No. 1 in C minor (5+1+1)
8) Shostakovich No. 8 in C minor Op. 110
9) Beethoven No. 7 in F Op. 59, No. 1 (Razumovsky) (59 - 7² = 10 - 1 = 9 )
10) Debussy Op. 10 in G minor

Wit, flair and imagination. Thanks, Flay.

[Thropplenoggin]

I've been trying to do something with this since it started - I even tried Opus numbers, but had to include pieces I'd never heard! So, how about this for "10 Favourite String Quartets"?:

1) Ardittis
2) Diotima
3) Takacs
4) Talich
5) Lindsays
6) Smith
7) Jack
8) Pacifica
9) Maggini
10) La Salle

... Bygger! I didn't mention the Budapests, Fitzwilliams, Busch, Juilliard, Alban Berg, Hungarian, Tokyo, Mosaiques, Veghs ... I'll need another go: this is still impossible!

Cheeky. Very cheeky.

[cloughie]

I've been trying to do something with this since it started - I even tried Opus numbers, but had to include pieces I'd never heard! So, how about this for "10 Favourite String Quartets"?:

1) Ardittis
2) Diotima
3) Takacs
4) Talich
5) Lindsays
6) Smith
7) Jack
8) Pacifica
9) Maggini
10) La Salle

... Bygger! I didn't mention the Budapests, Fitzwilliams, Busch, Juilliard, Alban Berg, Hungarian, Tokyo, Mosaiques, Veghs ... I'll need another go: this is still impossible!

...but they're all 4s!

[aeolium]

I've been trying to do something with this since it started - I even tried Opus numbers, but had to include pieces I'd never heard! So, how about this for "10 Favourite String Quartets"?:

1) Ardittis
2) Diotima
3) Takacs
4) Talich
5) Lindsays
6) Smith
7) Jack
8) Pacifica
9) Maggini
10) La Salle

... Bygger! I didn't mention the Budapests, Fitzwilliams, Busch, Juilliard, Alban Berg, Hungarian, Tokyo, Mosaiques, Veghs ... I'll need another go: this is still impossible!

And where's the Quartetto Italiano, ferney?

I've recently been listening to the old Griller Quartet playing Mozart and Haydn quartets (a CD picked up in the recent Dutton Vocalion sale mentioned on the Bargains thread). I was impressed. They play with quite a lean, light style with generally quick tempi and, unusually for the time, exposition repeats. According to the CD notes, they had an unusual seating arrangement of (left to right) 1st violin, cello, viola, 2nd violin. I am very glad that Dutton have reissued these performances (Mozart K387 and K421, Haydn op 33 no 3).

Having said that, we are fortunate in having many wonderful ensembles today - the Henschels, the Belceas, the Carduccis etc etc (as well as some of those you mentioned).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And where's the Quartetto Italiano, ferney?

I'll see your and raise you a !

Having said that, we are fortunate in having many wonderful ensembles today - the Henschels, the Belceas, the Carduccis etc etc (as well as some of those you mentioned).

[gamba]

Oh, but what about Boccherini?

Very good see you. I hope you are bearing up to this cold weather.

Thank you drover soul - I was just being my usual daft self ! Had another hospital visit, a form of anaemia with the bone marrow not producing right number or type of blood cells.
Will be back soon I hope with more nostalgic tales from the past.
With good wishes to you all - gamba

[Thropplenoggin]

Thank you drover soul - I was just being my usual daft self ! Had another hospital visit, a form of anaemia with the bone marrow not producing right number or type of blood cells.
Will be back soon I hope with more nostalgic tales from the past.
With good wishes to you all - gamba

Best wishes, gamba. Get well soon!

[salymap]

Best wishes, gamba. Get well soon!

Yes echoed by me. Keep warm and get well and I look forward to more 'nostalgic tales from the past'.

[makropulos]

1. Janacek No. 1
2. Szymanowski No. 2
3. Britten No. 3
4. Haydn Op. 74 No. 3, Rider (wild card)
5. Bartók No. 5
6. Schubert: G major D887 ("No. 15", which I think works as 1+5 under these rules?)
7. Ravel Quartet (wild card)
8. Mozart Hunt Quartet K458 ("No. 17" = 8)
9. Beethoven Op. 59 No. 3 (who ever gives Beethoven quartets numbers apart from Op. nos?...but by my reckoning this is No. 9)
10. Dvorak E flat Quartet Op. 51 (apparently "No. 10" though, again, I've never thought of it that way).