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.

[psu_13]

The Kodaly are nice and used to be comparatively cheap. The Angeles Quartet also has a complete set that I like.

[T.D.]

I prefer HIP and like the Mosaïques, so nothing new to suggest.

If you do downloads, the Festetics complete set (first one using HIP) DL is available cheaply. I've seen it at Presto, for instance. Also on streaming outlets.

On the negative side, I've never been fond of "The Lindsays" due to bad intonation (although their playing has a certain intensity and spirit). My first hearing of Seven Last Words was their recording, which nearly put me off the work entirely. Culled it straightaway.

Edited 48 minutes ago by T.D.