What Schubert Quartets?

What? You're running away from your own thread?

So the Schubert string quartets you own are not by the Juilliard Quartet, but by a Juilliard School ensemble? That's different. The Juilliard Quartet proper wouldn't be my first choice in Schubert either, their being a nervy fast American quartet (though their sixties takes on Beethoven and Mozart are 'legendary'). But if it's the school ensemble you may have had bad luck.

The great Schubert Quartets are the last three 12 in A, 13 in d, and 15 in G. You need those. Plus you need the String Quintet in C.

Very good Schubert quartet recordings are the Melos one on Harmonia Mundi; for a little more angst and violence the Alban Berg Quartet on EMI; for more deliberation and depth the Italiano on Philips. I believe the Italiano comes real cheap.

The famous String Quintet can be had cheap by the Amadeus Quartet with William Pleeth on the second 'cello. There's a later Amadeus Q recording of this piece with another cellist, but it's not the classic take (same thing as with the Juilliard: no bell bottoms on those guys! after 1973 decline sets in.). I'd wish there was a cheap edition of the Amadeus's 13-15 quartets, because they have this Vienna thing the Italiano do not have - but apparently it's not available right now.

Herman

Giz a snog Hermy

Oops- it's the Julliard Quarter I own, not the school.

Maybe I saw too many episodes of Fame in my childhood.

quid pro quo

quote:

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Originally posted by Minky:
Giz a snog Hermy

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I don't know...
Whaddya got?

Ludwig,

if you like the Juilliard Schubert don't let us mess with your mind now. No matter who is playing (assuming they can play, and the Juilliard can) the music is the same.

Herman

The Italiano is a good way into these quartets, a Philips "Duo" with all four 12-15 at a good price.

I also like the Hagen "Death & The Maiden on DG (paired with a Beethoven quartet).

And if you like the quartets try the Octet, chamber music at it's most enjoyable.

Olly

Does anyone have experience with DG's box set of all of Schubert's string quartets, played by the Melos-Quartett Stuttgart?

You don't really need a complete set. At least I have never had one. But perhaps you feel youreally need to explore Schubert's apprentice years (in that case I'd first get a complete piano sonatas, such as the Kempff).

Happy New Year everybody in this Room.

Herman

Can't offer any of my own experience, however a friend of mine highly recommended a set of the Schubert quartets by the Leipzig Quartet on the German label MD&G

Cheers,

John Schmidt
"90% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon