Customer Reviews

Haydn Quartets 14-19

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Ravishing Recordings Recalling a Gouldian Glamour...
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While Glenn Gould's f-minor String Quartet (`Op. 1') is hardly in the Mozartean vein, these (1988-90) performances by the brilliant Viennese ensemble Artis Quartett recall aspects of Gould's revelatory Mozart Sonata readings: for in its discourse with Mozart's texts, the Artis achieves realizations of resplendent clarity, control, and conviction which amount to something like ethical virtue.
This high-minded aesthetic rectitude is effected via crisp articulation, bright dynamics, and a certain dry levity--a veritable joie d'esprit.
The psychic animation and auditory colour of these readings would have been a joy to Gould's heart.
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With these `Haydn' Quartets, some auditors may suppose the ABQ a bit shrill or the Emersons somewhat clinical; but these vibrant executions by the Artis Quartett will scarcely fail to satisfy, for as with Gould's Mozart Project, they have successfully said what they wanted to say about Mozart.
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Gould, K.310 Piano Sonatas 3
Gould, K.331 The Mozart Piano Sonatas, Vol. 4
Gould, Complete Mozart Sonatas Mozart: The Complete Piano Sonatas; Fantasias, K397 & K475
Gould, String Quartet Op. 1 Gould: String Quartet No. 1
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ABQ Mozart: The Ten Great String Quartets
Emerson Mozart:6 "Haydn" Quartets
Amadeus Mozart: The String Quartets
QI Mozart: String Quartets No. 16 K. 428 & No. 17 K. 458
Guarneri Mozart: Six Quartets Dedicated to Haydn
Prazak Mozart: "Haydn" Quartets [Hybrid SACD]
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I've enjoyed these CDs for some time. The Artis Quartett plays very very well and is recorded in warm, transparent sound. Aside from the fact that they appear not to perform repeats, there is nothing to dislike about these performances. They play accurately, with good tone, vigor, and balance. These Austrian musicians know Mozart's musical idiom thoroughly and play within the tradition we have come to love.