34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb!, March 3, 2003
This review is from: Janácek Quartet: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon (Audio CD)
Back in "Iron Curtain" times it was by no means easy to hear Soviet-bloc artists in the U.S., and recordings really established international reputations over here. And based on available recordings it was generally conceded that the two great Czechoslovak string quartets were the Janacek and the Smetana, the former based in Moravia (Brno), the latter in Bohemia (Prague). The heyday of the Janacek Quartet was the 1950s and 1960s when these recordings were made for Deutsche Grammophon, British Decca and Westminster. About half were recorded in mono, the rest are stereo; but all are, technically speaking, very decently produced and wear their years lightly. Performance highlights for me are the Decca recordings of Dvorak and Haydn quartets; the DG recording of the Brahms piano quintet (with Eva Bernathova); and the stunning Westminster performance of the Mendelssohn Octet (where the Smetana Quartet joins in!). The great conductor Karl Bohm once declared that the Czech lands were the spiritual home of great string playing, and when you hear these recordings you sense the justness of that remark. These players produce a strikingly beautiful but variegated sound and they phrase with an easy naturalness that, on every re-hearing, discloses new subtleties. No, this is not high-powered American string playing ala the Julliard Quartet; what the Janacek Quartet offers is a style and sound that is almost lost in today's internationalized musical performance world.
Catch this set while you can; it's billed as a limited edition and many of the performances have been unavailable (in the U.S., at least) since the early 1960s. Space-saving clamshell box format and price are additional inducements, but these priceless recordings would be a bargain at twice the price DG is charging. Final note: no collection of the Janacek Quartet's work is complete without their stunning stereo recording of the two great quartets written by their namesake, currently available on a midprice Supraphon CD. Although an earlier, mono recording of the second Janacek quartet is included in the DG box, spend a little extra for the Supraphon CD just to get the Janacek Quartet's equally stunning performance of Janacek No. 1 ("Kreutzer Sonata" quartet). You won't regret the minor duplication, plus the Supraphon CD also includes a pleasant, "off the beaten path" quartet by Late Romantic Czech Vtislav Nowak as a substantial bonus. Here's the link to the Supraphon CD on Amazon.com
Janacek / Novak: String Quartets But for heaven's sake, don't hesitate to buy the DG collection right now!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great chamber recordings, March 5, 2011
This review is from: Janácek Quartet: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon (Audio CD)
This boxed set originally issued in the DG budget series comprises the complete DG, Decca and Westminster recordings by the Janácek String Quartet, dating from 1956-1963. In this period the Janácek Quartet led by the violinist Jiri Trávnicek (d.1973) was one of the best European string quartets and the only rival of the most famous Czech group, the Smetana String Quartet
String Quartet 12 / String Quartet 1. In Mendelssohn's Octet, Op. 20 (CD 3 of this 7-CD boxed set), the two competing groups join their efforts to produce a reference performance of this work.
The reason to buy this 7-CD set is obvious: it offers some of the best performances of the chamber music included here. I especially value the Janácek Quartet's performances of two Haydn's quartets from his Op. 33 - the `Bird' quartet in C major, Op. 33/3 (CD 1) and the `Joke' quartet in E flat, Op. 33/2 (CD 2), Mendelssohn's Octet (CD 3), Brahms piano quintet recorded with the pianist Eva Bernathová (CD 4), the First Smetana's quartet in E minor and the Second Janácek's quartets (both on CD 7). Dvořák's fans won't miss the recordings of his quartets Opp. 34, 96, 51 and 105 (CDs 5 and 6).
The competition in this repertoire is tough, but the Janácek Quartet's version are second to none. For the Haydn's quartet Op. 33/2 I would recommend the Alban Berg Quartett
Haydn: String Quartets Op. 33 #1 & Op. 77 # 1 & 2. There is a digital recording of the Mendelssohn's Octet made by the Emerson Quartet who recorded all string parts later superimposed in studio
Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet: it is an amazing achievement, but do not abandon a more warm and less machin-like reading from the Smetana & Janácek quartet. Brahms's piano quintet has been recorded by Rudolf Serkin and the Budapest Quartet and by Rubinstein and the Quarneri
Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 67: these recording have more swing but the version of Bernathová and Janácek Quartet is extremely fine, especially in the last two movements. For a comparison in Janácek's quartets one can try other Czech groups or the Hagen quartet
Janacek: String Quartets 1 & 2; Wolf: Italian Serenade.
I admit that Janácek Quartet lacked such an opulent string tone as the Smetana Quartet or Quartetto Italiano. However, they dynamic range was large - they had really many grades of piano and pianissimo, and their rhythmical control was enviable. They knew where to keep the speed and play `l'istesso tempo' and where to add: this makes their readings of Janácek's `Intimate letters' and the Scherzo and Finale of the Brahms' Piano Quintet so flexible and attractive.
The Janácek Quartet is represented by the following line-up: Jiri Trávnièek, Adolf Sýkora (violins), Jiri Kratochvil (viola), Karel Krafka (cello).
The booklet includes a good and helpful essay by Tully Potter.
Performances: *****; Sound: ****.
My ratings refer to the merits of the recordings only, not to the current amazon price. I am glad that I own this boxed set, and 50-55 dollars for 7 CDs of quality performances is not bad. But I think that a boxed set originally issued as a budget edition could be cheaper.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic 7 disc set, April 7, 2010
This review is from: Janácek Quartet: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon (Audio CD)
The Janacek Quartet seems most remembered for its recording of Leos Janacek's two string quartets. This set, somewhat hard to come by, will likely elevate their reputation for those who hear it. Three and a half discs are dedicated to Czech works (mostly Dvorak, but also Smetana and Janacek).
The Janacek Qt. plays with the lyricism and athletic technique one expects from Czech groups, but avoids going over the top or heavy handedness. The Dvorak performances especially attention-grabbing. Also included are 4 Haydn quartets and a work each by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Beethoven. The Mendelssohn Octet (performed with the Smetana quartet) is absolutely top shelf, as are most of the other performances. Get one now; who knows how easily it will be located once its gone. Their disc of both Janacek quartets is still available on Supraphon.
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