The Haydn Project

Emerson String Quartet (Artist), Bela Bartok (Composer), Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Antonin Dvorak (Composer), Franz Joseph Haydn (Composer), Charles Ives (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Franz Schubert (Composer), Dmitri Shostakovich (Composer), Anton Webern (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Bela Bartok, Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak, Franz Joseph Haydn, Charles Ives, et al.
• Audio CD (September 18, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B00005OKSH
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,025 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #52 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Ives, Charles

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. String Quartet in F minor, op. 20 no. 5: Allegro moderato

2. String Quartet in F minor, op. 20 no. 5: Menuetto

3. String Quartet in F minor, op. 20 no. 5: Adagio

4. String Quartet in F minor, op. 20 no. 5: Finale: Fuga a due soggetti

5. String Quartet in E flar major, op. 33 no. 2: Allegro moderato, cantabile

6. String Quartet in E flar major, op. 33 no. 2: Scherzo: Allegro

7. String Quartet in E flar major, op. 33 no. 2: Largo sostenuto

8. String Quartet in E flar major, op. 33 no. 2: Finale: Presto

9. String Quartet in G major, op. 54 no. 1: Allegro con brio

10. String Quartet in G major, op. 54 no. 1: Allegretto

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. String Quartet in G minor, op. 74 no. 3: Allegro

2. String Quartet in G minor, op. 74 no. 3: Largo assai

3. String Quartet in G minor, op. 74 no. 3: Menuet: Allegretto

4. String Quartet in G minor, op. 74 no. 3: Finale: Allegro con brio

5. String Quartet in D minor, op. 76 no. 2: Allegro

6. String Quartet in D minor, op. 76 no. 2: Andante o piu tosto allegretto

7. String Quartet in D minor, op. 76 no. 2: Menuetto: Allegro ma non troppo

8. String Quartet in D minor, op. 76 no. 2: Finale: Vivace assai

9. String Quartet in G major, op. 77 no. 1: Allegro moderato

10. String Quartet in G major, op. 77 no. 1: Adagio

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 3 DISCS ACTUALLY, November 15, 2004

By 

DAVID BRYSON (Glossop Derbyshire England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Haydn Project (Audio CD)

The third is a set of individual movements by Mozart, Schubert, Dvorak, Bartok, Ives, Shostakovich, Webern and finally a sizzling performance of the fugue from Beethoven's third Rasumovsky. It's brilliant, so I don't know why they are being so coy about it.

The first thing that I commend strongly about this set of 7 Haydn quartets is the actual selection. They range in order of composition from one of the op 20's to the great op77 #1, and 3 of the 7 are in minor keys. I get a definitely serious feel to the Emersons' approach to all 7. Op 33 #2 'The Joke' is included, and for once the jokiness at the end is downplayed, to my great relief. Another aspect that interested me was the fairly moderate speeds they take in the finales to the first 4 numbers, getting distinctly livelier in the last 3. I find this extremely convincing -- the music in the earlier finales is slighter than in the later ones and to my ears it benefits from not being rushed. What I would have liked to find out from the liner notes is whether that, or something else entirely, was the Emersons' thinking, but the remarks are to a familiar pattern -- useful and informative background information, very little about the performances, and rather gushy 'chatty-learned' stuff on the music.

I would describe this as a really distinguished set. It ought to suit experienced listeners in search of new insights, and for new(er)comers the format has been quite brilliantly devised as an introduction to the string quartet repertory presenting the father of the genre in depth followed by glimpses of what his successors did with the heritage he left them. Recorded quality also excellent.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply marvelous...., October 29, 2001

By 

Jane Fowler WYMAN (Menlo Park, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Haydn Project (Audio CD)

I have grown old with the Emerson; they recently celebrated their twenty-fifth season with the Stanford University Lively Arts, and I have not missed one of those performances. This year they played four of the quartets from their Haydn Project. The audience was as thrilled as any listener of these CDs will be.

In addition to their extraordinary performance, the Emerson have chosen seven of Haydn's most delightful quartets, bound to rekindle the excitement of knowledgeable music lovers and to entice new listeners. The liner notes provide an introduction not only to Haydn but also to the string quartet as a form. I cannot think of a better introduction: for one who wants to learn but is timid, here is where to begin.

The bonus CD offers movements from other quartets that the Emerson often play as encores. What a joy!

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars String Quartet Delight, January 16, 2002

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Haydn Project (Audio CD)

This tribute to Haydn is spectacular. Their playing is impeccable, with fine definition and movement. I especially enjoy their offering of Opus 33, The Joke. It is light and playful and bounces with liltiness.

This is truly refreshing music to listen to. The bonus CD of works by Mozart, Shostakovich, Dvorak, et al is wonderful as well. This finales in Beethoven's op. 59 for String Quartet.
Magnificent!

Thanks Emerson for 25, may 25 more be yours and your fans!