Brahms: The String Quartets; Dvorák: String Quartet Op. 106

Johannes Brahms (Composer), Antonin Dvorak (Composer), Alban Berg Quartet (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Alban Berg Quartet
• Composer: Johannes Brahms, Antonin Dvorak
• Audio CD (September 6, 1994)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Teldec
• ASIN: B000000SOB
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,779 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. String Quartet In C Minor, Op.51 No.1: Allegro

2. String Quartet In C Minor, Op.51 No.1: Romanze: Poco Adagio

3. String Quartet In C Minor, Op.51 No.1: Allegretto molto moderato e comode. Un poco piu animato

4. String Quartet In C Minor, Op.51 No.1: Allegro

5. String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 51 No.2: Allegro non troppo

6. String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 51 No.2: Andante moderato

7. String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 51 No.2: Quasi Minuetto, moderato. Allegretto vivace

8. String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 51 No.2: Finale: Allegro non assai

Disc: 2

1. String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 67: Vivace

2. String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 67: Andante

3. String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 67: Agitato (Allegro non troppo)

4. String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op. 67: Poco Allegretto con Variazioni. Doppio Movimento

5. String Quartet In G Major, Op. 106: Allegro moderato

6. String Quartet In G Major, Op. 106: Adagio ma non troppo

7. String Quartet In G Major, Op. 106: Molto vivace

8. String Quartet In G Major, Op. 106: Finale: Andante sostenuto. Allegro con fuoco

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent CD, no liner notes :(, February 4, 2005

By 

W. Morris (Pensacola, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brahms: The String Quartets; Dvorák: String Quartet Op. 106 (Audio CD)

To the best of my knowledge this 2 CD set of the Brahms string quartets done by the Alban Berg Quartett is of the finest currently available. The players show a balance and timbre that is gorgeous and sumptuous without being overbearing. True panache and class are quite radiant in this recording. For the virtuosic playing it's worth the very reasonable price.

My only reason for a 4-star rating is that the CD set comes without liner notes: a very minor thing when just taking the time to enjoy the music. But for some of us who feel that they need a little background info as to what was going on in the composer's life or perhaps his actual reason for writing the music, it is completely lacking.

Like I said though, it's worth the money you spend for it and I still highly recommend it. You'll just have to find another source to retrieve background info.

Now if only Sony would re-release the Juilliard Quartet performing these same string quartets.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brahms' Quartets Among His Most "Modern" Works, February 14, 2000

By 

Karl Henzy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brahms: The String Quartets; Dvorák: String Quartet Op. 106 (Audio CD)

There's no "problem" here, unless the listener is timid. These are gorgeous quartets. Unlike Schubert's beautiful late quartets, the melodic lines in Brahms' quartets are not clean and sharp, but they make up for it with a harmonic richness that is simply intoxicating. In fact, Brahms' innovativeness in the "vertical" element of harmony makes these quartets his most "modern" works, a short step from the early quartets of Bartok and Schoenberg. Such company may put some listeners off, but for me, these Brahms quartets rival Beethoven's.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning performances of great music, January 6, 2009

By 

goldenrool (Lake Mary, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brahms: The String Quartets; Dvorák: String Quartet Op. 106 (Audio CD)

Over the years, I have collected over 200 recordings of string quartets beginning with LP's, cassettes and finally CD's. These are some of my favorites. A little intro is required.

While going through a "junk" music bin in a pawn shop in the early 80's, I found a cassette of these recordings that contained one of the Brahams (third I believe) paired with the Dvorak. Believe I paid $.25. I had never heard these recordings but upon loading it into a player, I realized that I had found an unexpected treasure. The Brahams was interesting but it was the Dvorak that really caught my attention. In the adagio, the Alban Berg create a special musical moment. It evokes a bittersweet longing and reverie that are uniquely Dvorak. It reminds me of the Adagio captured in the great (and recently reissued) Philips' recording of the Grieg piano concerto performed by BBC / Kovacevich. It is that special.

Fast forward 15 years, Teldec reissued these performances on CD and offered for a bargain price. Needless to say, I did not hesitate to purchase. Previously the Dvorak had been my primary interest but upon hearing the complete set of the Brahams' quartets, I gained a new appreciation for these pieces. Truly masterful performances. I would take the contrary view to one of the other reviewers that the tautness and tension of the performances reveal the true nature of these compositions, showing Brahams at the heights of his powers. Furthermore, these quartets also show a side of Brahams that is sometimes overlooked. Brahams straddled the Romantic period and the coming "modern" era. Yes, Brahams was the quintessential romanticist but in the density and textures found in these pieces, his work was also looking forward to the modern era.

To summarize, these recordings are treasures that offer continued discovery upon repeated listening. Highly, highly, highly recommended.