Beethoven late quartets - recommendations?

I'm getting my birthday present bids in to my wife... Any recommendations for these (ideally available on SACD as I'm making a concertoed effort to take that format wherever poss now)? The Takacs version seems to pick up a lot of praise.

 

The Prazak Quartet on Praga Digital... I was very impressed with their Op 74 and Op 95 recordings, superb sound on SACD.

Is the Takacs available on SACD?

 

doesn't look like it, in fact Decca have precious few SACDs, but the recording apparently sounds very good on CD - listed as one of Radio 3's top recording recommendations of 2005. I've heard the Lindsay's version priased too - though again not on sacd.

 

I've got the Lindsays later ASV recording of op130, on SACD. IMO its a bit hard going, not much warmth to it. I think it might have been the only one they released on SACD.

 

The best I've heard is the Amadeus Quartet recorded in 1963. Not much chance of SACD there!

 

I like the Quartetto Italiano (Phillips Duo, two volumes, a bargain). Also - even if very different - the Alban Berg (1st release). Both plain CD.

 

I too like the Italiano best, with the Bergs neck and neck with the Vegh. Doubt this has achieved SACD status though.

 

If only they would remaster the Italiano on DSD.... go on Universal, if Sony can do it for CBS recordings, what can't you?

 

i've passed on the choices to my wife - she can decide so it will still be a surprise....

wish we could lobby the labels about what to reissue on SACD -
I need to replace my copy of Grumiaux's Bach violin concertos and would love ot hear what they could do with it on dsd..

 

Skip the quartets- they ain't any good!

 

Don't skip the quartets, the later ones from the Rasamovskys onwards are works of genius. The opus 130 onwards ones are works of absolute genius

 

Well then! All these years wasted. Wish I'd known that.

 

Another strong recommendation for the Quartetto Italiano.





P.S.

bat,

You're not related to Tommy Beecham by any chance?

 

Vegh Quartet here.

Jon

 

I recently bought the heavily-praised Takacs set of the late quartets, and while it's pretty good I wouldn't say it offers much that you can't get from the considerably-less-well-reviewed earlier Alban Berg complete set, my long-term Beethoven quartet reference. The Takacs is very slightly cleaner here and there, but we're talking about probably half a dozen scuffed notes across the entire Alban Berg set; interpretation-wise there's really very little to choose between them.

 

Long time no hear PeteH! Where have you been, we need you to balance up against the baroque fetishists.

I'd love to see any reviews of the the Prazak Quartet recordings, as they are on SACD as the OP was looking for.

 

Don't say so. You may perhaps by close inspection reveal some weak points yourself.

BTW, I read this thread, since I during some time have considered to acquire a complete set of LvB's Quartets. But which set? The cost taken into consideration, the Alban Berg Quartet seems to be a safe choice? Personally I would prefer an interpretation which doesn't make the "wild" quartets too wild. Does the Berg Qt. meet this demand?

 

what? Its only an internet forum.

 

I would say no. They are pretty wild, cold and modern. The Italiano is mellower.

 

It's got to be the Lindsay's for me. No-one's mentioned the Amadeus Quartet either, I think those two would top my list