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 6 hours ago by T.D.

[Peter Friedman]

I am a huge fan of the Haydn String Quartets Op.20 through Op.77. I have heard numerous (mainly) recorded performances of all of them. Rarely a day goes by when I have not listened to at least one Haydn String Quartet.

Here are my recommendations for the Op.50 quartets:

Nomos Quartet

Zaide Quartet

Tokyo Quartet

Leipziger Quartet

Auryn Quartet

 

[Late]

1 hour ago, Peter Friedman said:

Rarely a day goes by when I have not listened to at least one Haydn String Quartet.

Yes! Haydn has really clicked for me this past year. I've always "enjoyed" Haydn's work, and then turned to Beethoven or whoever else, but now I'm seeing/hearing Haydn's quartet writing as foundational and absolutely critical to the form.

I only have the Tokyo String Quartet's version of the op. 50, and really like it. I only know the Leipziger from their Schönberg, and haven't even heard the other string quartets you mention—Nomos, Zaide, and Auryn. Will have to investigate. The Mosaïques didn't record the op. 50, and neither did the Amadeus. From what I've read, this particular opus isn't considered as inventive as later opuses (76, etc.), but I like the opus 50 quartets for their structural simplicity (if I actually know what I'm talking about).

 

Really nice! Thanks for the heads-up.