Naim Audio Forum Archive

Posted on: 27 March 2013 by Chords

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvW9PkT_oEo

Very sensitive performance.

A little-bit 'sonata-feeling' - otherwise excellent.

Posted on: 27 March 2013 by EJS

Listening to a couple of the lesser-known Op.17 string quartets. The Angeles Quartet recorded their complete cycle for Philips in the mid-to-late 90s. Shortly after publication of the complete set, the quartet disbanded, and this set never achieved the liftoff it deserves. This picture is from the 2012 reissue, under the Decca label (Universal isn't allowed to use the name/brand Philips anymore).

There are many outstanding recordings of Haydn's quartets, and these are certainly among the top contenders among the ones I've heard, not only compared with other complete cycles but with individual recordings. Recording quality is beyond outstanding, for once we don't get close ups but a natural perspective that still allows all the detail to come through.

So, I'm set, but I've been having the Aeolian Quartet's complete set in the shopping basket for a while as well. It is incredibly cheap - does anybody know those performances, and if so, any good?

Cheers,

EJ

Posted on: 27 March 2013 by Tony2011

Posted on: 27 March 2013 by Lloydy

Posted on: 27 March 2013 by matt podniesinski

Vinyl.

Posted on: 27 March 2013 by Haim Ronen

Vincent Parrilla,together with his ensemble MORE HISPANO, explores the 16th Century art of musical ornamentation, diminution and improvisation.

Highly recommended.

Posted on: 27 March 2013 by matt podniesinski

Posted on: 27 March 2013 by Haim Ronen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bYBn5VJ-ko

Posted on: 28 March 2013 by Bert Schurink

..still excellent..

Posted on: 28 March 2013 by Chords

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0isZEjes7c

From 2'40" - really fine gamba player...

Highly recommended.

Posted on: 28 March 2013 by mtuttleb

Originally Posted by EJS:

Listening to a couple of the lesser-known Op.17 string quartets. The Angeles Quartet recorded their complete cycle for Philips in the mid-to-late 90s. Shortly after publication of the complete set, the quartet disbanded, and this set never achieved the liftoff it deserves. This picture is from the 2012 reissue, under the Decca label (Universal isn't allowed to use the name/brand Philips anymore).

There are many outstanding recordings of Haydn's quartets, and these are certainly among the top contenders among the ones I've heard, not only compared with other complete cycles but with individual recordings. Recording quality is beyond outstanding, for once we don't get close ups but a natural perspective that still allows all the detail to come through.

So, I'm set, but I've been having the Aeolian Quartet's complete set in the shopping basket for a while as well. It is incredibly cheap - does anybody know those performances, and if so, any good?

Cheers,

EJ

Hi EJ,

Have you heard the Haydn quartets performed by Quatuor Mosaïques? Very musical interpretations.

There are two 5 CD boxsets very reasonably priced when I bought them at the FNAC in Nancy. You can order from FNAC online.

Regards,

Mark

Posted on: 28 March 2013 by EJS

Originally Posted by mtuttleb:

Originally Posted by EJS:

Listening to a couple of the lesser-known Op.17 string quartets. The Angeles Quartet recorded their complete cycle for Philips in the mid-to-late 90s. Shortly after publication of the complete set, the quartet disbanded, and this set never achieved the liftoff it deserves. This picture is from the 2012 reissue, under the Decca label (Universal isn't allowed to use the name/brand Philips anymore).

There are many outstanding recordings of Haydn's quartets, and these are certainly among the top contenders among the ones I've heard, not only compared with other complete cycles but with individual recordings. Recording quality is beyond outstanding, for once we don't get close ups but a natural perspective that still allows all the detail to come through.

So, I'm set, but I've been having the Aeolian Quartet's complete set in the shopping basket for a while as well. It is incredibly cheap - does anybody know those performances, and if so, any good?

Cheers,

EJ

Hi EJ,

Have you heard the Haydn quartets performed by Quatuor Mosaïques? Very musical interpretations.

There are two 5 CD boxsets very reasonably priced when I bought them at the FNAC in Nancy. You can order from FNAC online.

Regards,

Mark

Hi Mark, I have their Op.33 CDs. They lack some of that lyric sweeping quality that I need in Haydn, but they make the most of Haydn's mucking about with the music (I mean that in a good way). Also, I think they haven't done the early quartets, correct? Unlike Mozart, Haydn's are great from the get-go.

Cheers,

EJ

Posted on: 28 March 2013 by mtuttleb

Originally Posted by EJS:

Originally Posted by mtuttleb:

Originally Posted by EJS:

Listening to a couple of the lesser-known Op.17 string quartets. The Angeles Quartet recorded their complete cycle for Philips in the mid-to-late 90s. Shortly after publication of the complete set, the quartet disbanded, and this set never achieved the liftoff it deserves. This picture is from the 2012 reissue, under the Decca label (Universal isn't allowed to use the name/brand Philips anymore).

There are many outstanding recordings of Haydn's quartets, and these are certainly among the top contenders among the ones I've heard, not only compared with other complete cycles but with individual recordings. Recording quality is beyond outstanding, for once we don't get close ups but a natural perspective that still allows all the detail to come through.

So, I'm set, but I've been having the Aeolian Quartet's complete set in the shopping basket for a while as well. It is incredibly cheap - does anybody know those performances, and if so, any good?

Cheers,

EJ

Hi EJ,

Have you heard the Haydn quartets performed by Quatuor Mosaïques? Very musical interpretations.

There are two 5 CD boxsets very reasonably priced when I bought them at the FNAC in Nancy. You can order from FNAC online.

Regards,

Mark

Hi Mark, I have their Op.33 CDs. They lack some of that lyric sweeping quality that I need in Haydn, but they make the most of Haydn's mucking about with the music (I mean that in a good way). Also, I think they haven't done the early quartets, correct? Unlike Mozart, Haydn's are great from the get-go.

Cheers,

EJ

Interesting, as I do listen mostly to the later ones Op.77 being a favourite as well as the Op.51 from these sets.

I do find though that Haydn's quartet music is much more accessible than some of the Beethoven quartets, although there are some real gems there that are wonderful. I admit that I have a long way to go with string quartets, but I try to go to local festivals and concours(competitions) to sample as much as possible quartets in old churches. Maybe I need a slightly "warmer" presentation at home for listening to the quartet discs that I have.

Regards,

Mark

Posted on: 28 March 2013 by EJS

Originally Posted by mtuttleb:

Originally Posted by EJS:

Originally Posted by mtuttleb:

Originally Posted by EJS:

Listening to a couple of the lesser-known Op.17 string quartets. The Angeles Quartet recorded their complete cycle for Philips in the mid-to-late 90s. Shortly after publication of the complete set, the quartet disbanded, and this set never achieved the liftoff it deserves. This picture is from the 2012 reissue, under the Decca label (Universal isn't allowed to use the name/brand Philips anymore).

There are many outstanding recordings of Haydn's quartets, and these are certainly among the top contenders among the ones I've heard, not only compared with other complete cycles but with individual recordings. Recording quality is beyond outstanding, for once we don't get close ups but a natural perspective that still allows all the detail to come through.

So, I'm set, but I've been having the Aeolian Quartet's complete set in the shopping basket for a while as well. It is incredibly cheap - does anybody know those performances, and if so, any good?

Cheers,

EJ

Hi EJ,

Have you heard the Haydn quartets performed by Quatuor Mosaïques? Very musical interpretations.

There are two 5 CD boxsets very reasonably priced when I bought them at the FNAC in Nancy. You can order from FNAC online.

Regards,

Mark

Hi Mark, I have their Op.33 CDs. They lack some of that lyric sweeping quality that I need in Haydn, but they make the most of Haydn's mucking about with the music (I mean that in a good way). Also, I think they haven't done the early quartets, correct? Unlike Mozart, Haydn's are great from the get-go.

Cheers,

EJ

Interesting, as I do listen mostly to the later ones Op.77 being a favourite as well as the Op.51 from these sets.

I do find though that Haydn's quartet music is much more accessible than some of the Beethoven quartets, although there are some real gems there that are wonderful. I admit that I have a long way to go with string quartets, but I try to go to local festivals and concours(competitions) to sample as much as possible quartets in old churches. Maybe I need a slightly "warmer" presentation at home for listening to the quartet discs that I have.

Regards,

Mark

Mark, for reference, you might want to try the Borodin quartet. Big boned, warm performances, almost old fashioned when you compare them to, say, the Jerusalems or the Mosaiques. But very, very good. Most recently they did Op.33 for Onyx. I am a fan of the old Alban Berg Quartett, who did some pretty good Haydn in their day and struck a good balance between the lean and the emotional. They signed out with the Op.76 quartets, of which I wish I could be more positive - but those performances were polished to a fault.

Cheers,

EJ

Posted on: 28 March 2013 by BigH47

Posted on: 28 March 2013 by mtuttleb

Originally Posted by EJS:

Mark, for reference, you might want to try the Borodin quartet. Big boned, warm performances, almost old fashioned when you compare them to, say, the Jerusalems or the Mosaiques. But very, very good. Most recently they did Op.33 for Onyx. I am a fan of the old Alban Berg Quartett, who did some pretty good Haydn in their day and struck a good balance between the lean and the emotional. They signed out with the Op.76 quartets, of which I wish I could be more positive - but those performances were polished to a fault.

Cheers,

EJ

Regarding the warmth factor that was a tongue in cheek dig about the Naim SL2, with a colleague making a witty remark about bleached harmonics