Brahms: String Quartets, Op. 51/1 & 51/2

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
With typical modesty, Brahms described his Op. 51 String Quartets as "musical consommé". The critically acclaimed Verdi String Quartet serve up well-blended performances of these Romantic masterworks that are certain to please the most discriminating palate.

Brahms: String Quartets, Op. 51/1 & 51/2, Music, Johannes Brahms, Chamber, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers, Quartet for Four String Instruments

Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
Average customer rating:

Very Good, but beware technical problems

This is how all Brahms should be played!

Mastery and joy

9 CDs with THE AMADEUS: WHAT A BARGAN!

Exquisite music performed with exquisite artistry

Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
Karl Leister , Johannes Brahms , Christoph Eschenbach , Cecil Aronowitz , Norbert Brainin , Siegmund Nissel , and Amadeus Quartet
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00008RWRG
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Customer Reviews:

Very Good, but beware technical problems.......2007-05-26

Overall, I really enjoy these pieces. The playing is good, and the sound is quite live, which I enjoy. My favorite piece is the Quintet in G Major Op.111, though the sextet in Bb is a close second. I am a perfectionist, and my familiarity with these pieces led me to be a little dissapointed, which is why there is only 4 stars. My dissapointment stems from two facts:
1. In the first movement of the Brahms G Major Op.111, the string quintet elects not to take the repeat in m.56, so you will never hear the first ending on this recording and thus only get one shot at the awesome cello opening. I haven't listened closely enough to the other pieces on this set to discern if they avoided other repeats or not, but for the most part, they appear to be there.

2. There are technical printing problems. Though the recording is so live that you can hear the breath of the musicians and their fingers fall on the strings, there are some actual technical pops in the recording. Perhaps it was a transfer problem from analog to digital, as the recordings are old. Most of these pops are minor, but they are dissapointing for an audiophile such as myself. My CDs are pristine (no scratches at all), and even the first time playing them these pops were there. So, here's the list of what I've found thus far:

CD 3:
Track 6: Pops & clicks at 1:19 & 1:22.

CD 5:
Track 1: Pops at 6:01.
Track 2: Pops & clicks at 0:13, 3:56, & 6:16.
Track 5: Pop at 12:07.
Track 7: Pop & clicks at 6:11, 7:45, 7:51-7:52 (these are quite noticable), 7:59, 8:03, 8:11.
Track 8: Pop at 7:34.

It is a well-played set; hopefully they will get the printing correct on the next batch.

This is how all Brahms should be played!.......2007-02-14

There isn't much to say about this set, but I'll say what there is to say: These players play the Brahms chamber music here with such emotion, musical understanding, and overall perfection that this set should be made into a must for all Brahms chamber music lovers. The Amadeus quartet, along with all of the other performers, including Eschenbach on the piano and Leister on the clarinet, really know what they're doing and play it so beautifully that the listener will want to hear the pieces again and again until the CD player is practically worn out. These Brahms works are some of the most sublime works of the later 19th century. For such quality music and great sound, especially for having been recorded in the 1960's, the price is also great. I recommend this set very highly, and hope you decide to get and enjoy it as much as I do.

Mastery and joy.......2006-12-12

Because they lasted such a long time and toward the end didn't play at their best, I found reasons to overlook the Madeus Qt. But in this 9-CD set of the complete chamber music of Brahms, there are some sublime performances--I would especially point to both String Sextets, for example. In every instance the style of the Amadeus is full of vibrancy and joy, and their ensemble isn't baased on technical perfection but rather a kinship of musical taste and feeling (this puts them poles apart from the Emerson Qt., for me at least). I also love the Brahms chamber performances on Sony with Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, emanuel Ax, and friends, but this DG set is altogether sweeter and more lyrical.

Since Amazon neglects to list the additional players who join the Amadeus for the works that aren't soely for a string quartet, here's the run-down from Tower:

1. Quartet for Strings no 1 in C minor, Op. 51 no 1
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet

2. Quartet for Strings no 2 in A minor, Op. 51 no 2
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet

3. Quartet for Strings no 3 in B flat major, Op. 67
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet

4. Quintet for Piano and Strings in F minor, Op. 34
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Eschenbach, Christoph

5. Quintet for Strings no 1 in F major, Op. 88
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil

6. Quintet for Strings no 2 in G major, Op. 111
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil

7. Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in A minor, Op. 114
Performer: Leister, Karl; Eschenbach, Christoph; Donderer, Georg

8. Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B minor, Op. 115
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Leister, Karl

9. Sextet for Strings no 1 in B flat major, Op. 18
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil; Pleeth, William

10. Sextet for Strings no 2 in G major, Op. 36
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil; Pleeth, William

9 CDs with THE AMADEUS: WHAT A BARGAN!.......2005-10-04

This is a really nice set at a bargan price.

Exquisite music performed with exquisite artistry.......2005-05-20

All the passion, majesty, pathos, and soul of his symphonies is in these 10 works of chamber music by Brahms:

3 string quartets;
2 string quintets;
2 string sextets;
a quintet for piano, 2 violins, viola, and violoncello;
a trio for piano, clarinet, and violoncello;
and a quintet for clarinet, 2 violins, viola, and violoncello.

All this wealth of extraordinary music is in a 5 CD set, performed by one of the finest chamber music ensembles in the world, with the added artistry of Christoph Eschenbach (piano), Cecil Aronowitz (viola), and Karl Leister (clarinet).

One CD is 50' 36 in length, 2 are in the low 60's, and 2 are in the low 70's.

I have an inexpensive CD player, but this music emerges from it with the sharpness of etched glass, the smoothness of warmed honey, and the softness of rivers of silver in moonlight.

This is music to celebrate the joy and the pathos of life, played with soul, sensitivity, and power. Buy it and treasure this gift to yourself.

Average customer rating:

The "Clinker" of the bunch

Brahms: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00062FLIS
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

The "Clinker" of the bunch.......2006-12-19

Having collected the entire "The Masterworks" series (including the Bach and Mozart Complete Works) this set is the 'clinker' of the bunch. First off... 6 CD's of Lieder 'historic' (pre-historic) recordings. No Overtures, No Orchestral Seranades, No Haydn Variations?? The performances of the Symphonies and the Concertos are shakey and not very well recorded. Brilliant Classics, who has done such a wonderful job with the Hadyn Complete Symphonies (licensed from Nimbus), the Mozart and Bach Complete sets, has stumbled a bit with this release.

Average customer rating:

Brahms: Complete String Quartets

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005BC5Q
Release Date: 2001-04-24

Tracks:

Str Qt No.1 in c, Op.51 No.1: Allegro
Str Qt No.1 in c, Op.51 No.1: Romanze: Poco Adagio
Str Qt No.1 in c, Op.51 No.1: Allegro Molto Moderato E Comodo
Str Qt No.1 in c, Op.51 No.1: Allegro
Str Qt No.2 in a, Op.51 No.2: Allegro Non Troppo
Str Qt No.2 in a, Op.51 No.2: Andante Moderato
Str Qt No.2 in a, Op.51 No.2: Quasi Menuetto, Moderato
Str Qt No.2 in a, Op.51 No.2: Finale; Allegro Non Assai

Tracks:

Str Qt No.3 in B flat, Op.67: Vivace
Str Qt No.3 in B flat, Op.67: Andante
Str Qt No.3 in B flat, Op.67: Agitato - Allegretto Non Troppo
Str Qt No.3 in B flat, Op.67: Poco Allegretto Con Vars
Str Qt No.12 in c, D.703 'Quartettsatz': Allegro
Str Qt No.14 in d, D.810 'Death And The Maiden': Allegro
Str Qt No.14 in d, D.810 'Death And The Maiden': Andante Con Moto
Str Qt No.14 in d, D.810 'Death And The Maiden': Scherzo: Allegro Molto
Str Qt No.14 in d, D.810 'Death And The Maiden': Presto

Brahms: Complete String Quartets; Clarinet Sonatas

Average customer rating:

NATION SPEAKS TO NATION
Fine sound and solid playing

Brahms: Complete String Quartets; Clarinet Sonatas

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000041N7
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 1 In C Minor Op. 51 No. 1: Allegro
String Quartet No. 1 In C Minor Op. 51 No. 1: Romanze. Poco adagio
String Quartet No. 1 In C Minor Op. 51 No. 1: Allegretto molto moderato e comodo - Un poco piu animato
String Quartet No. 1 In C Minor Op. 51 No. 1: Allegro
String Quartet No. 3 In B Flat, Op. 67: Vivace
String Quartet No. 3 In B Flat, Op. 67: Andante
String Quartet No. 3 In B Flat, Op. 67: Agitato. Allegretto non troppo
String Quartet No. 3 In B Flat, Op. 67: Poco allegretto con variazioni - Doppio movimento

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 51 No. 2: Allegro non troppo
String Quartet No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 51 No. 2: Andante moderato
String Quartet No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 51 No. 2: Quasi minuetto, moderato - Allegretto vivace
String Quartet No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 51 No. 2: Finale. Allagro non assai - Piu vivace
Sonata for Clarinet And Piano No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1: Allegro appassionato
Sonata for Clarinet And Piano No. 1 In F Minor,Op. 120 No. 1: Andante un poco adagio
Sonata for Clarinet And Piano No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1: Allegretto grazioso
Sonata for Clarinet And Piano No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1: Vivace
Sonata For Clarinet And Piano No. 2 In E Flat, Op. 120 No. 2: Allegro amabile
Sonata For Clarinet And Piano No. 2 In E Flat, Op. 120 No. 2: Appassionato, ma non troppo allegro
Sonata For Clarinet And Piano No. 2 In E Flat, Op. 120 No. 2: Andante con moto
Sonata For Clarinet And Piano No. 2 In E Flat, Op. 120 No. 2: Allegro non troppo

Customer Reviews:

NATION SPEAKS TO NATION.......2006-03-19

Of all 19th century composers Brahms is the most German and the least Italian. This makes it all the more pleasant to be able to recommend this account of his string quartets by the Italian Quartet as warmly as I do. Nothing on this pair of discs at all, either in the quartets or in the clarinet sonatas, strikes me as being my own idea of 'wrong'. Indeed nothing strikes me as being less than very good, and the performance of the A minor quartet at least is one that I would call completely outstanding. The players seem to understand Brahms's idiom perfectly, the playing itself is top-notch, and the recording, while perhaps not to the most spectacular modern standard, is right in every respect that really matters, particularly as regards the fullness of the sound.

Tempi throughout are well chosen. I found this to be particularly true of the tricky third movement of the C minor quartet. In this movement I might have liked just a little more prominence to be given to the lower of the two simultaneous melodies, but that is only a personal taste of my own, and the lower melody should not be completely equal to the higher in any case. Much more important is that the Italians do the trio section of this movement to absolute perfection, with the peculiar twanging effect that I always like to hear in the accompaniment. The A minor comes near absolute perfection for me from start to finish. Both the first movement, and even more so the second, need to be kept moving as they are here, the instrumental tone is superb throughout, and the minuet (another tricky piece to bring off) is judged to a nicety. In the third movement of the B flat the viola melody again is fervent and deeply felt as it should be, and the final set of variations is just about ideal too, particularly in the tempo rubato, where I have always thought Brainin's phrasing in the Amadeus version to be stiff and unconvincing.

This set also includes extremely fine accounts of the two clarinet sonatas, a convincing alternative to another fine disc I have where the performers are Thea King and Clifford Benson. These sonatas are Brahms's last chamber works, and they have an elegiac feel about them, particularly the first of the two. The whole effect here is richer, especially in terms of the clarinet sound, than from King and Benson, and I would not like to say which I prefer overall. For all the `sunset' mood of the works there is a good deal of forcefulness called for now and again, and these players are not afraid of that. Hepzibah Menuhin gives full value in the big chords, and while no sense of rush would be appropriate the speeds are not allowed to drag either, and rightly not.

I can't really say that you will find much illumination in the liner note, and I'd suggest that if you look for the influence of Beethoven that the author purports to find in the first movement of the C minor quartet you are not going to find it. It doesn't read to me either as if he has appreciated the significance of the wonderful slow movement of this quartet, where there really is influence from Beethoven - from no less than the cavatina of his B flat quartet op 130. The climactic phrase of the opening melody in particular recalls the same point in Beethoven's sublime inspiration, and as played here it stands up very well to the comparison.

All in all, a really admirable set despite this minor let-down. If Germany itself has produced a better version since the great days of the Busch Quartet I can't offhand recall which it is.

Fine sound and solid playing.......2002-07-09

This is a fine sounding disk with solid interpretations of the music. This collection provides all three string quartets with the two sontatas for clarinet and piano. It seems an odd mix, but somehow it works in this collection.

Brahms writes so well for string quartet that I find myself wishing he had found a way to write more of them. Maybe he did and burned them. In any case, these are pieces to treasure and to listen to over and over again. And certainly you will want to hear different interpretations of these pieces.

George Pieterson has a beautiful tone and plays the clarinet sontas with hepzibah Menuhin on the piano. They perform well together and let us hear a part of the repertoire we don't get exposed to unless we are clarinetists or accompanists or relatives to clarinetists! I have always loved the tone of the clarinet and there is a lot to love in these recordings.

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Romanze: Poco Adagio
III. Allegretto Molto Moderato E Comodo
IV. Allegro
I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Andante Moderato
III. Quasi Minuetto, Moderato; Allegretto Vivace
IV. Finale: Allegro Non Assai

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous Brahms, beatiful recording.......2007-03-17

This is a wonderful recording of great music. The playing is beyond criticism and recording allows the listener to hear the rich vertical dimension of these quartets. Performances like these should end the talk that these quartets are inferior to his other chamber music. It is unfortunate that the Cleveland Quartet did not leave us a recording of the third quartet.

Brahms: The String Quartets/Dvorak: Quartet, Op. 96

Average customer rating:

WELCOME BACK
Brilliant, Faithfully Rendered
Beautiful Brahms, Delightful Dvorak

Brahms: The String Quartets/Dvorak: Quartet, Op. 96

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000613X
Release Date: 1998-03-17

Tracks:

Streichquartett c-moll, Op. 51 No. 1: Allegro
Streichquartett c-moll, Op. 51 No. 1: Romanze. Poco Adagio
Streichquartett c-moll, Op. 51 No. 1: Allegretto molto moderato e comodo - Un poco piu animato
Streichquartett c-moll, Op. 51 No. 1: Allegro
Streichquartett a-moll, Op. 51 No. 2: Allegro non troppo
Streichquartett a-moll, Op. 51 No. 2: Andante moderato
Streichquartett a-moll, Op. 51 No. 2: Quasi Minuetto, moderato - Allegreto vivace
Streichquartett a-moll, Op. 51 No. 2: Finale. Allegro non assai

Tracks:

Streichquartett B-dur, Op. 67: Vivace
Streichquartett B-dur, Op. 67: Andante
Streichquartett B-dur, Op. 67: Agitato (Allegretto non troppo)
Streichquartett B-dur, Op. 67: Poco Allegretto con Variazioni
Streichquartett F-dur, Op. 67 - Amerikanisches Quartett: Allegro ma non troppo
Streichquartett F-dur, Op. 67 - Amerikanisches Quartett: Lento
Streichquartett F-dur, Op. 67 - Amerikanisches Quartett: Molto vivace
Streichquartett F-dur, Op. 67 - Amerikanisches Quartett: Finale. Vivace, ma non troppo

Amazon.com

Brahms reportedly destroyed more string quartets than he actually published, and it's not surprising. Aside from being even more intimidated by Beethoven's quartets than he was by Beethoven's symphonies, he was extremely self-critical, and much more comfortable writing chamber music which featured his own instrument--the piano. The Amadeus String Quartet was the outstanding British chamber group from the late 1950s through the early 1970s, and they excelled in performances of the standard Viennese classical repertoire. Their Brahms is a particularly fine example of their artistry, and Dvorák's The American Quartet makes an appealing bonus. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

WELCOME BACK.......2004-07-05

There is no Amadeus Quartet any more, so this reissue is welcome for that reason alone. At the outset I ought to say that they omit the first movement repeats in all four works. This is a matter of indifference to me, but some may wish to read no further.

Apart from the historical significance of this set, I needed a cd successor to my revered Allegri LP of the opus 51 quartets, and the Allegri version does not seem to be currently available. I would have been surprised if there had been a clear-cut issue of merit between two such eminent ensembles, and as I expected the merits are finely balanced. The Amadeus seem to me to have the edge in the C minor, the Allegri remain more to my liking in the A minor. Where the Amadeus score in the C minor is mainly in the extraordinary third movement. With the exposition repeat omitted in the first movement, this is actually the longest movement of the four. It is a particularly difficult movement to bring off sucessfully. The two simultaneous melodies at the outset are the biggest test. For me they should be almost equally prominent, with a very slight bias in favour of the upper theme. The tempo is hard to judge too, and the slower Amadeus speed gets it right for me. I also need to hear a twanging quality to the tone of the accompaniment in the trio section, much as the Amadeus do it, and they round the movement off with cleaner ensemble on the final pizzicato chord. There is less to choose in the other movements, but again I got more emotional kick out of the Amadeus in the celestial Romanze, particularly the climactic phrase of the main melody, with its clear reminiscence of the same point in the Cavatina of Beethoven's opus 130. Neither gets the last ounce of eloquence out of it - in my ideal performance it has me gripping the sides of my chair - but it has been many years since I heard it done to my complete satisfaction.

In the A minor the Amadeus could have done with taking the first and second movements, particularly the second, a little faster. The Allegri are somewhere near perfect for me in these. The `andante moderato' needs to be taken at a fairly brisk walking pace to make the maximum effect, and incidentally to show how it inspired the middle movement of Elgar's quartet, and I hope someday to see a cd reissue of the Claremont performance of that. In the B flat quartet the Amadeus are excellent without erasing my recollections of a superlative version by the Budapest Quartet that I no longer own. There is an obvious suggestion of Haydn in the first movement that everyone seems to have noticed, and an equally obvious suggestion of Mendelssohn in the second that nobody seems to talk about, and I hear both clearly in this account. The last movement gives me a slight problem that I sometimes have with the Amadeus - the phrasing, particularly Brainin's phrasing, is a bit affected. With artists of this eminence one often has to take stylistic features not completely to one's liking as part of the whole deal. Dvorak's opus 96 is a work about which I am less than passionate. It is very well done indeed, I compared it with my other cd version by the Moyzes group, and I found little or nothing to choose.

The liner note by John Warrack exasperated me by its conventional and, I believe, wrong-headed thinking. As usual, we are told about some supposed influence of Beethoven in the first movement of the C minor. Part of Brahms's complex mental and musical makeup was a fondness for playing subtle little games with reminiscences of his predecessors, all a feature of his conscious role as the custodian of the great German musical tradition. However the influence of Beethoven generally on him was far less than that of Bach or Schubert, the influence of Beethoven on this particular movement seems to me to be precisely nil, and overall I believe that anyone who tries to listen to Brahms with ears attuned to Beethoven will never understand him at all. He was a different musical animal entirely. The re-engineered recording is very good in its way, but for me it has a slightly artificial effect. 5 stars? Just about. At this level of interpretation one can afford to be finicky, and there is going to be nothing more now from the Amadeus.

Brilliant, Faithfully Rendered.......2004-04-21

This is yet another set of Brahms String Quartets for my collection. I cannot say it is the best or definitive but it is very, very good and has that "old world" flavor, transporting one to the Romanticism of the late 19th Century when kings and queens still ruled and everyone knew their status. I have often wondered how Brahms or Schumann or Dvorak would have reacted in the ideologically-charged atmosphere that permeates today's art world.

These works, which were rewritten over and over in Brahms's usual obsessive, secret manner are great renderings, dynamics perfect, a very faithful translation of the sheet music. Sonorities rise and fall and the quirky rhythms and constant surprises that are the hallmark of Brahms are handled superbly. There was no clear standout though the first two were simply ravishing.

The Dvorak, a fellow middle European, also worked wonders with chamber music and this quartet demonstrates both his musical and artistic genius. The rendering is simultaneously brilliant yet, in some small degree, "safe". The ensemble never strays into alien territory, prefering to present the music as it was written without a lot of hoopla. Great recording.

Beautiful Brahms, Delightful Dvorak.......2001-04-21

This DG Originals two-fer coupling Brahms' String Quartets and Dvorak's "American" Quartet, performed by the Amadeus Quartet, is simply wonderful. First off, while all of the discs in the DG Originals series feature esteemed, if not legendary performances, most of them, because of the CD's time constraints, only offer 3/4 of the performances from their original (two) vinyl counterparts. This is not the case here -- disc one featuring the two-part Op. 51 (No. 1 in C minor and No.2 in A minor) is the same as its original LP release from 1960, and the same for disc two, which couples Brahms' Op. 67 and Dvorak's Op. 96. To me, this is significant because while I love getting as much music as possible for my money, sometimes when too many pieces are collected together on a single disc, overall it doesn't flow well. But with these two Amadeus discs, I often find myself putting them on individually, particularly disc two -- it is incredible how well the third Brahms Quartet goes with the Dvorak "American." The performances by the Amadeus Quartet are outstanding, though I must admit in the case of the Brahms pieces I have nothing to compare them to at the time of this writing. This was however, my third version of the "American" -- the other two being the Juilliard version on Sony Essential Classics and the Prague S.Q. performance on the DG boxed set -- and the Amadeus Quartet's recording is every bit the equal of the other two, and yet it has a personality all its own. In all, these are classic performances, and an exceptional value too at mid-price.

Brahms: The Three String Quartets; Piano Quintet

Average customer rating:

A superb set
Passionate and Well-recorded Performances
It doesn't get better than these performances !
Most satisfying.

Brahms: The Three String Quartets; Piano Quintet

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000002ZEL
Release Date: 1997-09-09

Tracks:

String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1: Allegro - J. Brahms
String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1: Romanze: Poco adagio - J. Brahms
String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1: Allegretto molto moderato e comodo - Un poco piu animato - J. Brahms
String Quartet In C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1: Allegro - J. Brahms
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2: Allegro non troppo - J. Brahms
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2: Andante moderato - J. Brahms
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2: Quasi Menuetto, moderato - Allegro vivace - J. Brahms
String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2: Finale: Allegro non assai - J. Brahms

Tracks:

String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 67: Vivace - Johannes Brahms
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 67: Andante - Johannes Brahms
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 67: Agitato, Allegretto non troppo - Johannes Brahms
String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 67: Poco allegretto con variazoni - Johannes Brahms
Piano Quintet In F Minor, Op. 34: Allegro non troppo - Johannes Brahms
Piano Quintet In F Minor, Op. 34: Andante, un poco adagio - Johannes Brahms
Piano Quintet In F Minor, Op. 34: Scherzo: Allegro - Johannes Brahms
Piano Quintet In F Minor, Op. 34: Finale: Poco sostenuto - Allegro non troppo - Presto non troppo - Johannes Brahms

Customer Reviews:

A superb set.......2006-04-06

Brahms was well known for his somewhat pathological scrutiny of his compositions with a large number having their final resting place in the garbage can. And often those which survived were reworked and reworked until much of the spontaneity and freshness were squashed and replaced with a more rigid personna. Such seems the plight of the string quartets in general which are fairly dense and complex and don't quite flow as spontaneously as Brahms' beloved clarinet chamber music, Sextets or the Violin Sonatas.

Equally dense but brilliantly conceived is Brahms' Piano Quintet which is one of the three piano quintets in the 19th-century chamber music literature widely recognized as a true masterpiece (Dvorak's Op. 81 and Schumann's Op. 44 being the other two). It was a piece of grand proportions that underwent several transformations: from an early string quintet to music for two pianos (Op. 34b) and then to the final piano quintet. Its writing is thick and its mood formidable with each movement being as dramatic as the next. Brahms's earlier music was characterized by such rich, dense textures and seriousness of intent, and the piano quintet is one of the finer examples of this early emphasis (in contrast to the more relaxed, "autumnal" late works like the clarinet quintet).

As far as recordings for the piano quintet (and quartets for that matter), this one ranks with the best such as those of the legendary Quartetto Italiano with Maurizio Polini. In the piano quintet, Piers Lane and The New Budapest String Quartet find the right intensity, drive and vigor needed to propell this dynamic composition deep into the psyche of the listener. Even in the autumnal slow movements, they match the pristine tonal and lyrical beauty that the Quartetto Italianos were famous for in the 60's and 70's. But, the modern Hyperion sound quality slightly surpasses such vintage 60's analog transfers and makes this more of a recommended recording. Also, the ideal coupling adds to the appeal of this fine two-CD Hyperion DYAD set (DYAD is the Hyperion "two-for-one" budget sub-label somewhat like Philips' DUO's). Also worth noting is that this set received fine reviews from Penguin Guide and can be recommended without hesitation. But, for sure, the piano quintet is the star of the set with a very fine and rather exciting reading by Piers Lane and the Budapest Quartet. Compositions - 4 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Sound quality - 4.5 stars.

Passionate and Well-recorded Performances.......2004-09-18

The New Budapest quartet is not widely recorded - yet. This set, the first I had heard of theirs, made we want to hear more. As others have noted, the sound is excellent, warm and rich. It enhances the passionate intensity and intelligence of these performances. I had previously been familiar with the original Budapest's recordings on LP; the sound on these is much better. (I will not venture to compare the performances, since the original Budapest is simply in a class by itself.) These thoughtful interpretations reward repeated listening; I get some new insight or perspective each time I listen to one. The op. 67 almost sounded like a new piece when I heard it on this set. The third movment, mentioned in another review, is indeed different for Brahms, though I found it temperamentally reminiscent of another third movement, namely, the one in his third symphony. It is exquisitely rendered here. I cannot bear the piano quintet too often because of its emotional power. My other favorite recording is of the Guarneri with Rubinstein. This version lacks nothing. It brims with rich, articulate musicianship. Even the price is welcoming.

After hearing the Brahms, I searched out other recordings by this excellent and disciplined ensemble. I have been happy with their recordings of Borodin chamber music, d'Indy (the piano quintet is truly outstanding and features the same pianist) and the complete Beethoven quartets. The New Budapest preserves certain old school qualities in a modern context - in some respects they are the opposite of the Emerson Quartet, though both groups are technically accomplished. I find the New Budapest's recordings very rewarding and a pleasure to recommend. I look forward to hearing more from them.

It doesn't get better than these performances !.......2003-10-16

Rather than simply editing my previous inadequate commentary on these CDs (given quite a while ago), I think it's better, especially after more extended listening, that I return to them and offer, separately, a more thorough and informative review...Though the two string quartets are brothers of a sort, I find them to be two horses of a different color. The C minor No. 1 is more appealing to me. It has greater depth, and a very beautiful, poignant second movement romanze with a touch of sadness. Its first movement displays a masterful combination of diverse melodic elements--confident, bold musical strokes, mysterious tones, passion and moments of pleasant, flowing tunefulness. Though the third movement partially contains an element of tragedy, its theme and variations produce some of the most exquisite instrumental color changes I have heard. The final movement returns to the sense of drive characteristic of the opening movement. While the A minor, No.2 Quartet has its moments, e.g., a rich, flowing first movement with an intermittent melody reminiscent of the flavor of Brahms' Hungarian Dances, it can get to be a bit tiring, as it does in the second movement. Nonetheless, the New Budapest's quality of play throughout both works is exceptional.

The opus 67 Quartet reflects immediately its more cheerful major key mode. Though marked vivace, there are moments when cascading melodies are interspersed occasionally with slower moving, more serious tones. The sweet sounding andante is sporadically and faintly reminiscent of Mozart. The group gives it fluent expression. There's a winsome, almost exotic style that marks the third movement. In some ways, it is unlike anything I have ever heard before in Brahms' music. Very nice. At the onset of the last movement, I smile at the pleasant, seemingly Haydnesque refrain, which Brahms proceeds to develop through variation. A most enjoyable piece, superbly articulated by the performers.

The Piano Quintet in F minor is one of those truly masterful Brahmsian compositions. Though finished some time before his First Symphony, it clearly shows the kinds of signs that would later establish the composer as a giant among musicians. There is, at times, a monumental aspect which establishes itself early in the work, and with it, that wonderfully lyrical quality that so often typifies Brahms at his finest moments. And then, there's the gentle, tender, sometimes rhapsodic side, expressed in the musically sublime andante, played with great sensitivity by Piers Lane and the New Budapest Quartet. In the scherzo, the group's outstanding performance is evident also as it enhances, once again, the noble side of Brahms. The musical mastery of both the composer and performers carries into the dynamic and sometimes serenade-like atmosphere of the finale, where there is memorable playing from both pianist Lane and the stringed group. If you enjoy Brahms' chamber music, you will not be disappointed with these discs which, by the way, offer excellent sound. Very highly recommended.

Most satisfying........2003-01-15

These are all vigorous, sensitive and consistently musical performances by the New Budapest Quartet with Piers Lane. The pace seems ideal and the rich Brahmsian textures are admirably showcased. The Piano Quintet is given an especially fine interpretation. Hyperion's sound is excellent. If this side of Brahms' chamber music appeals to you, you would be hard pressed to find a better overall display of these works. A solid recommendation for these warmly presented pieces.