midici string quartet

[kfarad]

what do you guys think of the Medici Sting Quartet's interpretation of the Complete Beethoven Quartets? How would you compare it to others?

[Rod]

Originally posted by kfarad:
what do you guys think of the Medici Sting Quartet's interpretation of the Complete Beethoven Quartets? How would you compare it to others?

I bought their op18, pretty good, lively set I'd recommend (but also try the Turner Quartet (HM) on period instruments). Also their rendition of the quintet op29 is pretty good (but checkout Hausmusik (EMI) on...er...period instruments). Their op59/1 is good but rough for the first movment, the remainder is no good. That's all I've heard of the Medici.

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Michael]

The Medici set is an excellent one, well-recorded and quite cheap. The Opus 29 String Quintet is also included, though not mentioned on the box.

Michael

[kfarad]

Originally posted by kfarad:
what do you guys think of the Medici Sting Quartet's interpretation of the Complete Beethoven Quartets? How would you compare it to others?

I actually didn't like their op. 18... seems too... I don't know... unrestrained... save that for the middle quartets. I especially didn't like the C minor quartet... overly romantic lyricism in the legato parts, and too short on the thematic bigchords.

But yes, the value rating is very good-- they were cheap.

I wonder how they compare to the Emerson String Quartet's version of the complete Beethoven...

[Rod]

Originally posted by kfarad:
I actually didn't like their op. 18... seems too... I don't know... unrestrained... save that for the middle quartets. I especially didn't like the C minor quartet... overly romantic lyricism in the legato parts, and too short on the thematic bigchords.

The probem with op18 is that they are usually played with TOO MUCH restraint in my opinion. Take the first movement of no1. This is supposed to be a con brio piece but from my experience even the period instrument quartets play it very laid back - whereas from what i can remember the Medici play it in what I would regard as the correct spirit. With No 4 the big chords played short (I presume you are referring to the first movment) sound ok to me on this recording, better than too heavy which is usually the case, but on gut strings you can play 'heavier' without it sounding over the top. All the same I like these chords played with a little zip.



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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Joy]

Originally posted by kfarad:
I actually didn't like their op. 18... seems too... I don't know... unrestrained... save that for the middle quartets. I especially didn't like the C minor quartet... overly romantic lyricism in the legato parts, and too short on the thematic bigchords.

But yes, the value rating is very good-- they were cheap.

I wonder how they compare to the Emerson String Quartet's version of the complete Beethoven...

I've heard the Emerson String Quartet's and they are very good. Nice sound, although as far as value goes somewhat higher than the Medici.