Haydn String Quartets

[Late]

Is it conventional wisdom that Haydn is the progenitor of the string quartet? I know both Mozart and Beethoven admired his writing for quartet. I have scattered recordings of Haydn's string quartets: the Amadeus, Quatuor Mosaïques, Tokyo String Quartet, Keller, and maybe a few others. What recordings are you fond of? I'm particularly interested in checking out Haydn's (seemingly neglected) Op. 50 quartets, which include the quartet nicknamed "The Frog." (I also love the "Seven Last Words" arrangement for quartet.) I don't care whether the instruments are HIP or modern.

Recommend away!

[randyhersom]

Kodaly Quartet on Naxos.

[JSngry]

I like it anyway. Maybe not for everybody, though.

[Late]

2 hours ago, randyhersom said:

Kodaly Quartet on Naxos.

D'oh! The Kodaly were my very first purchase of Haydn quartets, the op. (Hob) 34. I haven't listened to them in a while, but I do remember (my impression) that they like to take slower tempos. Lets a listener take apart the voicings.

I haven't heard the Attacca; will have to find them on YT.

 

Sounds good! On first impression, they're like a blend of the Mosaïques and Amadeus.