Mozart String Quintets

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
There will probably never be recordings to match those made by Arthur Grumiaux and colleagues (Philips).

The augmented Budapest Quartet do their formidable best . . .

Graham

Mozart's last two string quintets were KV593 (1790) and KV614 (1791), KV515 and 516 date from 1787.

I have a BIS recording of the Orlando quartet with Nobuko Imai on 2nd viola playing KV516 and 614 and it is superb music. I'd love to hear the new Naim CD.

bazz

I was obviously having a "craft moment"* there! But 515 and 516 are in any event amongst the very greatest of Mozart's works and the new Naim CD fully does them justice.

Graham

(* as in Can't Remember A Flipping Thing)

Funnily enough, the CD is not shown on the Music section as having been released yet. Mine's genuine, though.

G

Melos Quartet with Piero Farulli for me. Nothing if not committed!!

EW

EW

I didn't know that Farulli had recorded with other musicians after he left the Quartetto Italiano. What record label is this on?

G

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
EW

I didn't know that Farulli had recorded with other musicians after he left the Quartetto Italiano. What record label is this on?

G

Deutsche Gramophone

EW

I don't think that Farulli's the additional viola on the DG Melos Quartet release. Correct me if I'm wrong.

G

Dear Graham,

I am a tremendous admirer of Grumiaux, but a recording that I find the equal of his is by the Talich Quartet on Caliope (French, 2 CDs), which I got on the recomendation of a friend. He has the Grumiaux set, and it is swings and roundabouts between the pieces and respective performances, I think, having borrowed it.

The set has the six regular Quintets and also a fine reading of the Clarinet Quartet, though I would not favour it over the refined classicism of Reginald Kell with the Fine Arts Quartet on Boston Skyline.

These performances seem to get to the heart of it, and are never attention grabbing, which I would not think anyone would call the Grumiaux set either.

The recording quality is quite intimate, and is clearly not made in a large concert hall. That is a bonus in my view.

Sincerely, Fredrik

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
EW

I don't think that Farulli's the additional viola on the DG Melos Quartet release. Correct me if I'm wrong.

G

Oh? I'll have to rummage the CD out and check... haven't played it for years so may be mistaken...

EW

... yes it was Farulli.

EW

You beat me to it! Really glad you like it, it is a beautiful recording. The CD is now available via our e store:

buy mozart quintets

and you can hear an exceprt from the first track here:

listen to part of the Allegro from C major

Here's some info abot the disc itself:

Mozart Quintets in C Major (K515) and G Minor (K516)

We proudly present this brand new recording of Mozart’s two great quintets by the Allegri Quartet. This disc is significant for several reasons. It sees Peter Carter re-united in the Allegri with Prunella Pacey, who was the quartet’s viola player in the days when Peter made his first recordings with them.

It is also the last recording to be made with Peter before his retirement from the quartet after 28 years as leader.

This rendition of Mozart’s C Major and G Minor quintets sees the Allegri at their sparkling best; the tonal beauty and exceptional precision a consistent part in all they do. The C Major, composed in April 1787, and the G Minor composed the month after, make for an exalted and contrasting pair, the one outwardly bright but serious, the other filled with sombre beauty.

The present members of the Allegri Quartet are the inheritors of a tradition that begun nearly fifty years ago in order to create inspired performances of the great classical and romantic chamber music repertoire

Rafael Todes on 2nd violin, Pal Banda on cello and Dorothea Vogel join Peter and Prunella for this True Stereo recording by Ken Christianson of Pro Music, Chicago.

Anna

EW

Thanks for that. The version currently available from the Melos has a different guest violist, which must be a remake.

G

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
EW

I don't think that Farulli's the additional viola on the DG Melos Quartet release. Correct me if I'm wrong.

G

Franz Beyer is playing the additional viola on the Melos release.

p-z

Well, so I thought.

But the Naim recording is quite wonderful.

G

Anna,

Isn't it time for the first classical LP from naim?

Regards

Emil

Hi Emil

Would like to do one, it's a question of picking the right title and, of course, I'd need to make sure we'd sell enough to make it worthwhile. I'll keep you posted! Right now, next vinyl to be released will be Music Collection Volume 2, which we're just working on at the moment.

Anna

Anna

This is great! New vinyl from naim for Christmas?!

Naim CDs are also among the best. Competitors of naim here in Sofia are using the naim sampler CD, which comes with Hi-fi News I think, to demonstrate their hifi products.

Emil

Emil

Vinyl will be available this week, will keep you posted!

Anyone see this?

allegri mozart is top ten

Get your copy while we still have stocks! Demand has exceeded my wildest expectations as a result of this Sunday Times chart position.

Anna

quote:

Originally posted by Anna Tooth:
Emil

Vinyl will be available this week, will keep you posted!

Anyone see this?

allegri mozart is top ten

Get your copy while we still have stocks! Demand has exceeded my wildest expectations as a result of this Sunday Times chart position.

Anna

Wonderful! That means we can hope for more. I'll order mine ASAP. Make sure my copy is one of the first pressings.

Regards

Emil

Still no review in Gramophone, though, which is where you really need to be reviewed to persuade music lovers, rather than hi-fi fanatics.

Graham