Customer Reviews

Dvorák: String Quartets 12 "American" and 13

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These two fine performances are another fine addition to the Vlach Quartet's splendid traversal of the Dvorák's music for string quartet. The recordings, done by Naxos in the Martinek Studio in Prague, are excellent.

The most popular of Dvorák's quartets is no. 12, Op. 96, dubbed the "American" quartet because it was composed during his sojourn in the United States. The Vlach's give the first movement Allegro a tasteful, romantic interpretation. The famous slow movement, one of the glories of chamber music, is done with ravishing beauty. The sprightly Molto Vivace is done with and good humour, while the final movement is spirited and graceful in turns.

I have an older recording with the Gabrieli Quartet on LP, which is very beautiful, as well. Since it is similarly conceived, a comparison is in order. Though not better than the Vlach's, their performance of the Lento second movement is particularly lovely. However, they seem a little more self-consciously arty, less idiomatic, than the Vlach Quartet does in this repertoire. I suppose this is a matter of taste, but I prefer the Vlach performance. The recording, while quite good, is not as natural as the Naxos one.

I have no comparisons for Quartet no. 13, Op. 106, but the playing is quite wonderful. The highly original first movement Allegro is full of cross rhythms, and sounds like nothing else I have ever heard. The Adagio second movement is has achingly beautiful close harmonies, which are perfectly judged by the Vlachs. The third movement is a forthright Molto Vivace, given a vigourous performance. The fourth moverment starts out slowly, but soon becomes more agitated. It seems the titles of most of Dvorák's movements do not express the contents, as they contain material with a variety of moods and tempos. Suffice to say that the Vlach Quartet negotiates the interpretative difficulties of the fourth movement with ease, and give a rousing climax.

This is a very enjoyable disc, with excellent performances of fine music.

All around beauty, sumptuously played. I like a very romantic, old world approach to this repetoire, and that's just what this group provides: relaxed tempos quick to pick up the pace when needed, a tendency toward rapt intensity, a coaxing and moulded handling of those lusciously long melodic lines, and a big rich warm tone. It's all here, and in spades. My only quibble would be that the first violinist does not "stand out" with her great melody in the last movement of the American -- that her line gets lost in an overly blended sonority. A nitpick only. I heartily recommend this disc, and at its price you can afford to add it to a collection that already possesses an "American".

This CD of the Vlach Quartet/Dvorak Nrs. 12 & 13 quartets is in keeping with other Naxos recordings of the genre (including the Kodaly and Eder quartets); very well played - very well recorded. This music is regionally idiomatic and seems to adopt a slightly different, more fulfilled - I baulk at "authentic" - character when played by these groups.

There is little indigenous material in the "From the New World" symphony and none at all in the "American" quartet. I suspect that after having gone to so much trouble and expense to entice Dvorak to become Director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York, the school's founder must have been rather displeased at his failure to generate the new "American" musical identity for which purpose he had been engaged. Probably a bit peeved by his early departure from the Conservatory as well . . . Not the right man for the post.

Despite his exposure to wider musical spheres, Dvorak and his music remained deeply rooted in Bohemia. He continued the cultural tradition of Smetana and his handling of the strongly Czech material in his quartets makes a wonderful contrast with the Germanic Viennese prototypes, although it has to be admitted that a couple of Dvorak's quartets are unnecessarily long and, worse, boring. However, Opus 96 ("American") and Opus 106 most assuredly are not of this pair. The "American" quartet is a justifiably popular piece and this recording coupled with the Opus 106 is amongst the best.

I have never understood the relevance of cost in the purchase of recorded music; if you like it/want it, buy it, at least at the reasonable prices obtaining in the US. Nevertheless, if price is a factor, Naxos seem to have removed any objections to purchase on that ground. No excuses not to buy this really excellent offering.

The Vlach Prague Quartet nails this. I can imagine that Dvorak would like it played this way...no other recoding conveys this amount of emotion. Some other well rated recordings Leave me cold.

I have played the Dvorak American Quartet (the first violin part) and cut my teeth on the Amadeus version recorded on vinyl by DG back in the day. That performance is, to me, ravishing -- it convinced me that this quartet may be the most beautiful quartet, ever.

So I ordered this CD based on good reviews and was disappointed. Listening to this performance you come away thinking, 'well, that was nice.' But that's about all. The Vlach quartet never seems to really come together with the emotional content that the Amadeus quartet delivered so beautifully.

Tonight, I played the American with some other amateur players, and then we listened to the two recordings, one on vinyl, one CD. We all agreed that the CD doesn't cut it. There are times when the Vlach Quartet are not playing the right timing (vs. the written notes on the page), and times, in the last movement particularly, when the first violin rushes ahead of everyone else by enough milliseconds to set my teeth on edge. You might not notice this so much if you haven't listened and studied a really good recording, but... the end result of the Vlach Quartet is a performance that is "fast" and "technical" but uninspiring.

If you're into the Dvorak American (and why wouldn't you want to be?), I noticed just now that DG has released the old Amadeus version, along with some Brahms quartets in a 2CD set, very reasonable at about $23. Search on Dvorak Amadeus String Quartet. And skip this version. The Vlach price is right, but the music isn't.

These are very fine accounts of two of the great masterpieces of the string quartet repertoire. Stylistically, they straddle his ethereally melodic but still Brahmsian American period, and the later, strikingly personal idiom of e.g. his symphonic poems, Rusalka and last string quartet. The so-called American quartet is of course the most popular work here, with its mesmerizing bird-call third movement, beautifully catchy incorporations of spirituals and general profoundly full of life and wistfulness, but the 13th is no less exellent (if less immediately attractive), brimful of spirit and memorable themes and touches.

The Vlach quartet once again prove themselves to be world-class musicians; the 12th quartet is full of energy, and the first movement is excellently paced, with the succession of themes flowing naturally and beautifully. The slow movement is sensitive and reflective, truly underlining the sweet and wistful melodic lines. The third and fourth movements are excellent as well, with the birdcalls truly singing and the final swaggering and full of spirit, and the performances draw together in a truly remarkable and joyful finish. The 13th quartet is an altogether more introvert work, and the Vlach quartet brings out the slightly restless spirit and the mournful energy and panache of the work in full.

In short, these are well-neigh remarkable performances. Overall, the series hovers between 4 and 5 stars, and while this disc is, perhaps, not significantly different than the others in terms of quality of performance, it sports even better sound quality than the others. Indeed, the sound quality is truly top-notch, well-balanced, transparent and with true depth. In sum, a quite outstanding release.

Dvorak's quartet #12, the "American," in F, Op. 96 is one of his most recognizable quartets. If you like string quartets you will know this one. If you haven't come to appreciate this more esoteric form of music (I didn't until I "grew up") this is a great one to start with. Dvorak combines technical mastery with a richness and tunefulness that are truly appealing. Quartet #13 in G, Op. 106, isn't so bad either.

The Vlach Quartet Prague does a fine job with both of these pieces. The CD is on the Naxos label and is recorded in DDD. The quality of the performance and the tech quality of the CD are both excellent.

Highly recommended.

I must confess that I am not a violinist like another reviewer here (I play the trumpet), so I cannot state that I've played this piece. However, I loved this work the first time I heard it on the local classical station, and I went out and purchased this CD right away.

It's quickly become one of my favorite albums. I'm not sure why, but I suppose it's a bit moody and certainly different from your typical Hydan or Mozart string quartets.

The musicians to me are quite good. I love the tempo of the playing; the quartet holds the melancholy notes just long enough to really sink in.

Highly recommended. I'm very, very glad I purchased this CD.