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The Library of Congress Mozart Recordings (1940-1945)
The Budapest String Quartet, George Szell, Gustave Langenus
The Library of Congress Mozart Recordings (1940-1945)
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (21) - Disc #1

The annotator of this release, Harris Goldsmith, writes: "What a stimulating and thought-provoking diversity for Mozarteans! With this release, listeners can welcome a brilliant addition to the legacy of recorded music." ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: The Budapest String Quartet, George Szell, Gustave Langenus, Mozart
Title: The Library of Congress Mozart Recordings (1940-1945)
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Bridge
Release Date: 10/20/1998
Genre: Classical
Styles: Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830)
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 090404908521

Synopsis

Album Description
The annotator of this release, Harris Goldsmith, writes: "What a stimulating and thought-provoking diversity for Mozarteans! With this release, listeners can welcome a brilliant addition to the legacy of recorded music." On this two-disc set Bridge Records issues five Budapest String Quartet Mozart performances- recordings never before released to the public in any format. Mr. Goldsmith opines that "at long last, we have the first truly satisfactory and inspired version the celebrated foursome made of the Clarinet Quintet, K. 581, and, to add to the bounty, it gives us a revelatory reading of the Quartet for Piano and Strings, K. 493, as well as characteristically vigorous accounts of two of the Haydn Quartets, K. 421 and K. 464. As a final treat we hear a magnificent Roisman-Kroyt-Schneider interpretation of the sublime Divertimento, K. 563."
 

CD Reviews

Searching and Intense Mozart Performances
jonsj | New York, NY United States | 11/23/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bridge has done an invaluable service in making available a number of wonderful live performances of the Budapest Quartet in their prime from concerts at the Library of Congress.



This set of Mozart is particularly valuable in adding the String Trio K. 563 to the Budapest discography and offering 2 of Mozart's "Haydn" quartets in performances which are superior to their commerical recording (which I've always found a bit disappointing).



People acquainted with the Budapest style will find much to cherish here: a lean, sinewy string sound and playing of tremendous fire and accuracy. These are performances which are well-suited to the darker side of Mozart and, indeed, the pieces on these CDs are some of Mozart's greatest and most tragic works, particularly the String Trio.



The transfers are clear and present mono sound with quite a bit of crackling, and a hint of artifical reverb. But these rapt and moving performances shine through."