Quartet recordings

[Michael]

Michael
[/B][/QUOTE]

Michael, you should run for office. This RL line comes from his extremely positive review of the Tokyo's Op. 18 set, and I'd say your use of it gives quite the opposite impression from what he's really saying.


Chrisg, you have confounded me with my own quote! All I can say in my defence, is that I was genuinely trying to describe my reaction to the Tokyo's, and Robert Layton's words (or what I remembered of them) came into my mind. How ironic that they came from a positive review of their recordings! I'll be more careful with my quotes in future - but please don't confuse me with a politician!
Funnily enough, I retained the Opus 18 set by the Tokyo Quartet (It had the Quintet Opus 29 as well as the arrangement of the Opus 14 piano sonata). It was the middle and late quartets I returned.
I still prefer the Hungarians, Italianos, Busch and Amadeus!
And remember, I did say in my posting that the failure to appreciate the Tokyo's may well be my problem, not the quartet's.
Enjoy your recordings - after all, that's what the whole thing is about..........

Michael

[chrisg]

Not to worry Michael, you made your points just fine without the Layton quote. I don't care for the Tokyo Late Qts either, but think you should have held on to the Middle set. All winners for me, with Op. 59/3 a truly great performance. I'm pretty sure that's the one Mr. Layton didn't like. Op. 29 is an outstanding work isn't it? No idea why it's so relatively ignored.

I'm curious about the Hungarian set you refer to. Is it complete? Label #? In print? And, in general, what do you like about it?

Thanks,

cg

[Michael]

Originally posted by chrisg:
Not to worry Michael, you made your points just fine without the Layton quote. I don't care for the Tokyo Late Qts either, but think you should have held on to the Middle set. All winners for me, with Op. 59/3 a truly great performance. I'm pretty sure that's the one Mr. Layton didn't like. Op. 29 is an outstanding work isn't it? No idea why it's so relatively ignored.
I'm curious about the Hungarian set you refer to. Is it complete? Label #? In print? And, in general, what do you like about it?

Thanks,

cg

The Hungarian Quartet set was the very first complete cycle I bought - and I only have it on vinyl - I am sure it must be available on CD but I believe the Hungarians did at least two complete cycles - one mono and one stereo. I bought the set on ten L.P's for ten pounds, so you may guess it wasn't last week! What I liked about it was that I heard most of B's quartets for the first time!
You're right about Opus 29. I think it's better than anything in Opus 18 except No.1.
The Medici Quartet have a fine version included in their complete quartet cycle.

Michael