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 November 27, 2025 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.

[Late]

Track #1 of 230!

 

[Holy Ghost]

One of my favorite composers.

 

[Late]

If you see this 2-disc set, snatch it up! Definitely not a HIP approach, but played with zest and clarity. This particular compact disc issue is exceedingly hard to find.

I wish the Quatuor Zaïde compact disc wasn't so expensive (at least in the U.S.). I'd snatch that up too.

[Late]

On 11/27/2025 at 9:09 AM, Peter Friedman said:

I am a huge fan of the Haydn String Quartets Op.20 through Op.77. ... 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:

Zaïde Quartet

Because of this recommendation, I've started to explore the work of Quatuor Zaïde. I'm really enjoying their offerings on YouTube. They've had a few personnel changes (mostly the violin chairs), but their approach as a group is full of life—really brimming with affection for the music. Too bad the prices for their compact discs (in the U.S.) is upward of $35 each.

Thank you for the rec!👍🫶

[Holy Ghost]

On 12/23/2025 at 12:05 AM, Late said:

Because of this recommendation, I've started to explore the work of Quatuor Zaïde. I'm really enjoying their offerings on YouTube. They've had a few personnel changes (mostly the violin chairs), but their approach as a group is full of life—really brimming with affection for the music. Too bad the prices for their compact discs (in the U.S.) is upward of $35 each.

Thank you for the rec!👍🫶

You may be able to find more affordable options from labels like Telarc or Naxos. IMO, I find them to be very enjoy enjoyable. 

[Late]

3 hours ago, Holy Ghost said:

You may be able to find more affordable options from labels like Telarc or Naxos.

👍🤙

[Holy Ghost]

 Late, NP:

 

This was part of the Virgin Classics "budget" line back in the day. Scooped up a ton of these, as they were priced under $10, plus the repackaging sleeve art was actually really slick. Still may be around and still affordable. 

[EKE BBB]

Currently listening to some of these recordings by the London Haydn Quartet.

[Chuck Nessa]

An old favorite -

[Holy Ghost]

On 2/24/2026 at 9:04 AM, Chuck Nessa said:

An old favorite -

Sounds like a great deal (pun intended). 

[Peter Friedman]

Yes, the Haydn Box by the Schneider Quartet is very good.

I am not generally a big fan of  performances by groups using Period Instrument string quartets. However, having listened to  so many many string quartet recordings by various groups using modern strings, I decided to give some of the Period Instrument groups a try. So am now turning my attention to Haydn Quartet recordings by these 3 groups.

Festitics Quartet

Buchberger Quartet

London Haydn Quartet

[mikeweil]

36 minutes ago, Peter Friedman said:

I am not generally a big fan of  performances by groups using Period Instrument string quartets. 

Would you mind telling the reason?

[Peter Friedman]

13 minutes ago, mikeweil said:

Would you mind telling the reason?

I like the "warmer' sound with a bit of vibrato that is often missing from period instruments. There is also (at times) a whining quality I hear from period instruments.

Though I must admit, that  a number of the more recent recordings i have heard by period instrument groups strike me as much better sounding than some earlier recordings.

My impression is that some more recent Period Instrument quartets have moderated their approach a bit and incorporated a modest bit of vibrato and sound less whiney.

At the same time a number of string quartets who do not identify as Period Instrument groups have also modified their playing to become more sensitive to some period instrument  performance concepts.