Alban Berg Quartet Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23 [Box set, Extra tracks, Import]

Alban Berg Quartet (Artist), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 12, 2002)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Extra tracks, Import
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Warner Music France
• ASIN: B000024MCP
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,999 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #7 in Music > Imports > Classical
  • #28 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Strings
  • #31 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Classical (c.1770-1830) > General

Track Listings

1. String Quartet No.14 In G Major, K.387 (Allegro Vivace Assai)

2. String Quartet No.14 In G Major, K.387 (Menuetto: Allegretto Trio)

3. String Quartet No.14 In G Major, K.387 (Andante Cantabile)

4. String Quartet No.14 In G Major, K.387 (Molto Allegro)

5. String Quartet No.17 In B Flat Major, K.458 (Allegro Vivacee Assai)

6. String Quartet No.17 In B Flat Major, K.458 (Menuetto: Moderato Trio)

7. String Quartet No.17 In B Flat Major, K.458 (Adagio)

8. String Quartet No.17 In B Flat Major, K.458 (Allegro Assai)

9. String Quarter No.15 In D Minor, K.421 (Allegro)

10. String Quarter No.15 In D Minor, K.421 (Andante)

11. String Quarter No.15 In D Minor, K.421 (Menuetto: (Allegretto) Trio)

12. String Quarter No.15 In D Minor, K.421 (Allegretto Ma Non Troppo)

13. String Quartet No.16 In E Flat Major, K.428 (Allegro Ma Non Troppo)

14. String Quartet No.16 In E Flat Major, K.428 (Andante Con Moto)

15. String Quartet No.16 In E Flat Major, K.428 (Menuetto: Allegretto Trio)

16. String Quartet No.16 In E Flat Major, K.428 (Allegro Vivace)

17. String Quartet No.20 In D Major, K.499 (Allegretto)

18. String Quartet No.20 In D Major, K.499 (Menuetto: Allegretto Trio)

19. String Quartet No.20 In D Major, K.499 (Adagio)

20. String Quartet No.20 In D Major, K.499 (Allegro)

See all 40 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Penguin Guide "Recommended Recording", May 7, 2005

By 

Alan Lekan (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alban Berg Quartet Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23 (Audio CD)

This 4-CD set contains Mozart's most monumental (and last) quartets, including the six quartets dedicated to his dear friend and colleage Joseph Haydn, the lone "Hoffmeister quartet" and the last "Prussian" quartets. All are masterpieces of the genre, especially the "Haydn's" which Mozart (uncharacteristically) toiled long and carefully to compose out of respect and admiration for his elder friend. Upon hearing these performed, Haydn pronounced to Mozart's father the now-famous quote about young Mozart being the greatest composer he knew in person or by reputation. As the pioneer of the modern quartet, Haydn knew great quartet writing when he heard it and he was right - these turned out to be among Mozart's greatest chamber works. (the quintets perhaps being the only greater works).

The Austrian Alban Berg Quartet executes these quartets with their characteristic and supreme suppleness, precision and elegance. "Polished" is a common description I see concerning their style. The music here sounds really, really great - for the perfectly honed compositions of Mozart to the impeccable performances of the Berg to the clear, vibrant sound quality. I normally favor the Quatuor Mosaiques for quartets, but here for Mozart's quartets, I think The Alban Berg Quartet is hard to beat. Indeed, this is what Penguin Guide concluded who awarded this set with a "Recommended Recording" and described it as "one of the most distinguised sets of the late quartets that has not been surpassed." What also makes this set so valuable is that it contains the last three quartets in addition to the Haydn Quartets - an obvious but not so common coupling. So, all the above factors make this set highly desirable and a fabulous value. (I think Teldec "left some money on the table" here ...). PS: Their complete cycle of Beethoven's string quartets also get rave reviews for similar reasons.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't get any better than this., September 29, 2006

By 

bonerfly "ear candy" (NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alban Berg Quartet Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23 (Audio CD)

I am assuming if you are reading this, I don't really have to say anything technical about Mozart or these GREAT late string quartets.
I am only writing this review to let you know...
For anyone who is disappointed with the performance and sound quality of The Berg Quartet's EMI Mozart collection of these same quartets, this is a horse of a different color.
This is THE Bergs we all know and love and nobody before or since has made Mozart's string quartets sound this good.
Perfect intonation, TONE, blend, dynamics and yes, PASSION.
I've had many collections of these works and this leads the field. BY FAR.
THIS ONE HAS IT ALL....
And the Teldec sound stage is the cleanest and crystal clear you'll ever hear.
With wonderful front to back depth and air around every note.
Demonstration sound with great imaging and transparency.
You can "literally" step inside this recording. Well you know what I mean.
It really doesn't get any better than this.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an outstanding survey of the best of Mozart's quartets, July 15, 2007

By 

jsa (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alban Berg Quartet Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23 (Audio CD)

Some may argue that everything Mozart wrote was inspired, but just not equally inspired; and this seems especially true of his quartets. His mature quartets are much stronger than his earlier ones, just as his later symphonies are much more developed than those he wrote earlier on. Nevertheless, those who want a complete set of the Mozart quartets might want to investigate the Talich's set on Calliope. It comes highly recommended by a number of critics (Gramophone, Penguin Guide, Classics Today etc) and was also awarded the Grand Prix du Disque and the Diapasson d'Or.

This set of later Mozart quartets (#14-23) by the Alban Berg Quartett is an outstanding way to go for those who want to focus on the most interesting works. Other reviewers have pointed out the ABQ's merits, however, to correct a minor error in another Amazon review, these Teldec recordings were not made in the 1990's but instead date from 1976-79. The sound is excellent - I found the Tallich Quartet's recordings, which date from 1984-1993, unnaturally subdued by comparison.

I own the both the ABQ and the Tallich sets and can say that had I bought this ABQ set first, I never would have purchased the complete Tallich set. As it turns out, I rarely listen to the early works and the compressed sound is a negative.

Those who are looking for the later Mozart quartets, of which there is no shortage of recordings, will be very satisfied with this set.

Highly recommended!