Amadeus Quartet - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon

Coming of classical age during the 70s, my library exploded with the advent of compact discs. And so my tastes is chamber music were defined by more modern interpretations (i.e., the Emerson Quartet) than the older Viennese-style of the Amadeus Quartet. Every once in awhile, I'd dip my toes into the weldschmerz schlagsahne, but ultimately dismissed the performances as too "old fashioned" for me. I was an ass.Rediscovering these performances at this point in life (in my 60s) I am simply stunned by their passion, vitality, sumptuous beauty, and unparalleled communication. Both internal communication among the four "brothers" as well as communication of the composer's intent (as true as that may ever be) with the listener.This is truly a pool to swim in. The sound, though not remastered, is warm and excellent with none of the notorious DG glare of earlier releases (allowances do however need to be made for the earliest recordings)It goes without saying that the Amadeus excels in Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart. But you will no doubt to taken by new discoveries - moments of nuance and beauty - along the way. The MacMillan String Quartet In C Major for example, is not merely "accessible", but stunning.I have not been a fan of DG's large "fan spiral" arrangement of CDs in these unusually large boxes (i.e., Karajan 19xx sets, as well as the absolutely monstrous Leonard Bernstein Complete Recordings set) as they take up far too much shelf space. And frankly too much effort to carry off the shelf, remove the cover, remove the book, and grab the one slender silver platter desired. I find it much easier to invest in a storage box such as the Bigso Kristina CD storage box, and place all of the CDs into this hand-held box. (I have several such boxes on my library shelves)The Amadeus collection will have pride of place among my "re-packaged" box sets and will be taken off of the shelf and listened to on a regular basis. The pleasure it has provided already has been enormous.

I like it so much,and all theses CD are precious collection.

Amazing choice!

A great quartet playing great music.

... Universal insists on its equivocal criteria of reproducing generic covers from vinyl sets. Such situations can be found in some Mozart reissues on this box, some Haydn as well... Why don't they release ALL original cover art? Resource saving? Laziness? Why?

Wonderful performances from one of the greatest string quartets in the world. The four original members of the Amadeus String Quartet stayed together for nearly 40 years, producing this extraordinary legacy of recordings for the enjoyment of classical music enthusiasts forever. Included in the collection are works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Bruckner, Smetana, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Britten, and several lesser known 20th century composers.Performances are of the highest quality throughout. Recording quality ranges from very good early mono recordings to excellent stereo of the finest degree.CD 1: Mozart: String Quartet No.17 In B Flat, K.458 -"The Hunt"; String Quartet No.16 In E Flat, K.428; String Foursome No.23 In F, K.590 "Prussian No.3"CD 2: Mozart: String Quartet No.18 In A, K.464; String Quartet No.19 In C, K.465 - "Dissonance"; String Quartet No.21 In D, K.575 "Prussian No.1"CD 3: Mozart: String Quartet No.15 In D Minor, K.421; String Quartet No.20 In D, K.499 "Hoffmeister"; String Quartet No.22 In B Flat, K.589 "Prussian No.2"CD 4: Mozart: String Quintet In C Major, K.515; String Quintet In E Flat Major, K.614CD 5: Mozart: String Quintet No.3 In G Minor, K.516; String Quintet No.5 In D, K.593CD 6: Mozart: String Quartet No. 16 In E Flat Major, K.428; String Quartet No.23 In F, K.590 "Prussian No.3"; String Quintet No.3 In G Minor, K.516CD 7: Haydn: String Quartet In F, H.III No.17, Op.3 No.5 - "Serenade"; The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross Op.51 (Hob.III. 50-56)CD 8: Haydn: String Quartet In G Major, Op.54, No.1 (Hob.III:58); String Quartet In C Major, Op.54, No.2 (Hob.III:57); String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op.64, No.3, (Hob.III:67)CD 9: Haydn: String Quartet In C Major, Hob.III:72, (Op.74 No.1); String Quartet In G Minor, Hob. III:74 (Op.74 No.3 "The Horseman"); String Quartet In G Major, Hob. III:81 (Op.77 No.1); String Quartet In D Minor Hob.III:83, (Op.103)CD 10: Mozart: String Quartet No.17 In B Flat, K.458 -"The Hunt" / Schubert: String Quartet No.10 In E Flat Major, D.87; String Quartet No. 8 In B Flat Major, D.112 (Op. Post. 168) / Mendelssohn: Four Pieces For String Quartet, Op.81, MWV R 35CD 11: Schubert: String Quartet No.13 In A Minor, D.804 - "Rosamunde"; String Quartet No.15 In G, D.887CD 12: Schubert: String Quartet No.14 In D Minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden"; String Quartet No.12 In C Minor, D.703 - "Quartettsatz" / Brahms: String Quartet No.1 In C Minor, Op.51 No.1CD 13: Brahms: String Quartet No.2 In A Minor, Op.51 No.2; String Quartet No.3 In B Flat, Op.67CD 14: Beethoven: String Quartet No.1 In F, Op.18 No.1; String Quartet No.2 In G, Op.18 No.2; String Quartet In D, Op.18 No.3CD 15: Beethoven: String Quartet In C Minor, Op.18 No.4; String Quartet In A, Op.18 No.5; String Quartet In B Flat, Op.18 No.6CD 16: Beethoven: String Quartet No.7 In F, Op.59 No.1 - "Rasumovsky No.1"; String Quartet No.8 In E Minor, Op.59 No.2 -"Rasumovsky No. 2"CD 17: Beethoven: String Quartet In C, Op.59 No.3 - "Rasumovsky No. 3"; String Quartet No.10 In E Flat, Op.74 - "Harp"CD 18: Beethoven: String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.95 - "Serioso"; String Quartet No.12 In E Flat Major, Op.127; Grosse Fuge In B Flat, Op.133CD 19: Beethoven: String Quartet In B Flat, Op.130; String Quartet No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.131CD 20: Beethoven: String Quartet No.15 In A Minor, Op.132; String Quartet No.16 In F, Op.135CD 21: Beethoven: String Quartet In F Major After Piano Sonata Op.14/1 In E Major; Quintet For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello In C, Op.29CD 22: Beethoven: Quartet WoO 36 No.1 In E Flat Major; Quartet WoO 36 No.2 In D Major; Quartet WoO 36 No.3 In C MajorCD 23: Beethoven: String Quartet In C, Op.59 No.3 - "Rasumovsky No. 3" / Haydn: String Quartet In D Minor, Hob. III:76 (Op.76 No.2 - "Fifths")CD 24: Beethoven: String Quartet In C, Op.59 No.3 - "Rasumovsky No. 3"; String Quartet No.10 In E Flat, Op.74 - "Harp"CD 25: Beethoven: String Quartet No.12 In E Flat Major, Op.127; String Quartet In C Sharp Minor, Op.131D 26: Beethoven: String Quartet No.15 In A Minor, Op.132; String Quartet No.16 In F Major, Op.135CD 27: Beethoven: String Quartet In B Flat, Op.130; Great Fugue In B Flat, Op. 133CD 28: Brahms: String Quartet No.1 In C Minor, Op.51 No.1; String Quartet No.2 In A Minor, Op.51 No.2CD 29: Brahms: String Quartet No.3 In B Flat, Op.67; Piano Quintet In F Minor, Op.34CD 30: Brahms: String Quintet No.1 In F, Op.88; String Quintet No.2 In G, Op.111CD 31: Brahms: Piano Quartet No.1 In G Minor, Op. 25; Clarinet Quintet In B Minor, Op.115CD 32: Brahms: String Sextet No.1 In B Flat, Op.18; String Sextet No.2 In G, Op.36CD 33: Haydn: The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross, Op. 51, Hob. III:50-56CD 34: Haydn: String Quartet In G Major, Op.54, No.1 (Hob.III:58); String Quartet In C Major, Op.54, No.2 (Hob.III:57); String Quartet In E Major, Hob.III:59, (Op.54 No.3)CD 35: Haydn: String Quartet In A Major, Hob.III:60, (Op.55 No.1); String Quartet In F Minor, Hob.III:61, (Op.55 No.2 "The Razor"); String Quartet In B Flat Major, H.III:62, (Op.55 No.3)CD 36: Haydn: String Quartet In C Major, Hob.III:65, (Op.64 No.1); String Quartet In B Minor, Hob.III:68, (Op.64 No.2); String Quartet In B Flat Major, Op.64, No.3, (Hob.III:67)CD 37: Haydn: String Quartet In G Major, Hob.III:66, (Op.64 No.4); String Quartet In D Major, Op.64, No.5 "The Lark" (Hob.III:63); String Quartet In E Flat Major, Hob.III: 64, (Op.64 No.6)CD 38: Haydn: String Quartet In B Flat Major, H.III:69, (Op.71 No.1); String Quartet In D Major, Hob.III:70, (Op.71 No.2); String Quartet In E Flat Major, Hob.III:71, (Op.71 No.3)CD 39: Haydn: String Quartet In C Major, Hob.III:72, (Op.74 No.1); String Quartet In F Major, Hob.III:73, Op.74 No.2; String Quartet In G Minor, HIII No.74, Op.74 No.3 "The Horseman"CD 40: Haydn: String Quartet In G Major, Hob.III:75, Op.76, No.1; String Quartet In D minor, H.III, Op.76 No.2 - "Fifths"; String Quartet In C, H.lll, Op.76, No.3 - "Emperor"CD 41: Haydn: String Quartet In B Flat Major, Hob.III:78 ,Op.76, No.4 - "Sunrise"; String Quartet In D Major, Hob.III:79, (Op.76, No.5); String Quartet In E Flat Major, Hob.III:80, Op.76 No.6CD 42: Haydn: String Quartet In G, HIII No.81, Op.77 No.1; String Quartet In F, HIII No.82, Op.77 No.2; String Quartet In D Minor HIII No.83, Op.103CD 43: Mozart: String Quartet No.17 In B Flat, K.458 -"The Hunt" / String Quartet In C Major, Hob. lll:77 (Op.76 No.3 - "Emperor")CD 44: Mozart: String Quartet No.1 In G, K.80; String Quartet No.2 In D, K.155; String Quartet No.3 In G, K.156; String Quartet No.4 In C, K.157; String Quartet No.5 In F, K.158; String Quartet No.6 In B Flat, K.159CD 45: Mozart: String Quartet No.9 In A, K.169; String Quartet No.10 In C, K.170; String Quartet No.11 In E Flat, K.171; String Quartet No.12 In B Flat, K.172; String Quartet No.13 In D Minor, K.173CD 46: Mozart: String Quartet No.14 In G, K.387; String Quartet No.15 In D Minor, K.421; String Quartet No.17 In B Flat, K.458 -"The Hunt"CD 47: Mozart: String Quartet No. 16 In E Flat Major, K.428; String Quartet No.18 In A, K.464; Divertimento In D Major, K. 136; Divertimento In B Flat Major, K. 137CD 48: Mozart: String Quartet No.19 In C, K.465 - "Dissonance"; String Quartet No.20 In D, K.499 "Hoffmeister"; String Quartet No.7 In E Flat, K.160; String Quartet No.8 In F, K.168CD 49: Mozart: String Quartet No.21 In D, K.575 "Prussian No.1"; String Quartet No.22 In B Flat, K.589 "Prussian No.2"; String Quartet No.23 In F, K.590 "Prussian No.3"; Divertimento In F, K.138CD 50: Mozart: String Quintet No.4 In C Minor, K.406; String Quintet No.2 In C, K.515; String Quintet No.5 In D, K.593CD 51: Mozart: String Quintet No.1 In B Flat, K.174; String Quintet No.3 In G Minor, K.516; String Quintet In E Flat Major, K.614CD 52: Mozart: Flute Quartet No.1 In D, K.285; Flute Quartet No.2 In G, K.285a; Flute Quartet In C Major, K.285b; Flute Quartet No.4 In A, K.298CD 53: Mozart: Oboe Quartet In F, K.370; Horn Quintet In E Flat, K.407; Clarinet Quintet In A, K.581CD 54: Mozart: Divertimento For Violin, Viola, And Cello In E Flat, K.563;CD 55: Mozart: Piano Quartet No.1 In G Minor, K.478; Piano Quartet No.2 In E Flat, K.493CD 56: Mozart: Serenade In G, K.525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik"; Ein musikalischer Spass, K.522; Adagio And Fugue In C Minor, K.546CD 57: Mozart: Piano Quartet No.1 In G Minor, K.478; Piano Quartet No.2 In E Flat, K.493CD 58: Schubert: String Quartet No.10 In E Flat Major, D.87; String Quartet No. 8 In B Flat Major, D.112 (Op. Post. 168); String Quartet No.9, D.173CD 59: Schubert: String Quartet No.13 In A Minor, D. 804 "Rosamunde"; String Quartet No.15 In G, D. 887; String Quartet No.12 In C Minor, D.703 - "Quartettsatz"CD 60: Schubert: Piano Quintet In A, D.667 - "The Trout"; String Quartet No.14 In D Minor, D.810 -"Death And The Maiden"CD 61: Schubert: String Quartet No.14 In D Minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden"; String Quartet No.12 In C Minor, D.703 - "Quartettsatz"CD 62: Schubert: String Quintet In C Major, D. 956CD 63: Schubert: String Quintet In C Major, D. 956CD 64: Dvorák: String Quartet No.12 In F Major, Op.96 - "American" B.179CD 65: Bruckner: String Quintet In F Major, WAB 112 / Smetana: String Quartet No.1 In E Minor, T.116 "From My Life"CD 66: Verdi: String Quartet In E Minor / Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No.1 In D Major, Op.11, TH.111CD 67: Britten: String Quartet No.2 In C, Op.36; String Quartet No.3, Op.94CD 68: MacMillan: String Quartet In C Major; Two Sketches On French Canadian AirsCD 69: Fricker: String Quartet No.2, Op.20 / Rainier: String Quartet / Bridge: Phantasie For Piano Quartet In F Sharp Minor, H.94CD 70: Bonus: Britten String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94, Beethoven String Quartet in A, Op. 18 No. 5, De Weille “Holdrio, liebes Echo”, Roche “Wini-Wini”

A great box set by a great string quartet.

Mi sono piaciute le interpretazioni. Come era facilmente prevedibile è abbastanza scadente la qualità audio delle registrazioni più datate.

Ich möchte in dieser kurzen Rezension nicht die musikalische Qualität des Amadeus Quartetts bewerten. Das Ensemble spielte in den ersten drei Jahrzehnten nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg ganz vorne mit und hinterlässt eine große Anzahl von Aufnahmen, die vielen Musikern noch heute als Referenz und Vorbild dienen.Mir geht es als Sammler vielmehr um die gestalterische und qualitative Umsetzung von Gesamtausgaben, mit denen sich nicht nur das Schaffen der Musiker, sondern auch die Editionsgeschichte der großen Musikverlage in den vergangenen 70 Jahren nachvollziehen lassen.Mit den Complete Recordings des Amadeus Quartetts ist das besonders gut gelungen und es macht dazu auch richtig Spaß, mit ihnen auf musikalische Zeitreise zu gehen. Die Verpackungen der CDs zeigen die originalen Cover der ursprünglichen Langspielplatten, auf denen die Musik zum ersten Mal veröffentlicht wurde. Dabei wurde auch bedacht, dass sich die große Anzahl an CDs irgendwie präsentieren lassen muss, konsequenterweise erscheinen die Titel also auch auf der schmalen Seite der Papphülle. Darüber hinaus sind die CDs in vier kleineren Kartons untergebracht und lassen sich auf diese Weise hervorragend im heimischen Regal platzieren.Die Dokumentation zum Erscheinungsdatum der Aufnahmen, zu den Lokalitäten und sonstigen bemerkenswerten Umständen ist ebenfalls gut gelungen. Ein Fotoband zeigt die Musiker in allen möglichen Situationen, was die Erschließung der zeitlichen Umstände, der Moden etc. befördert. Der Klang der Aufnahmen erscheint mir authentisch ich und durchgehend gut hörbar, wobei ich mich hier auf die Abmischung und die digitale Aufbereitung beziehe.Ich kann diese Ausgabe der Aufnahmen des Amadeus Quartetts uneingeschränkt empfehlen. Sie hat mir schon viele Stunden Hörvergnügen bereitet und mehrere kleine Reisen in die Welt vergangener Zeiten erlaubt.

Le quatuor à cordes, on aime ou on déteste. Il y a aussi une troisième possibilité à savoir: je ne peux écouter cette forme musicale qu'avec les Amadeus.J'ai pourtant tenté d'autres ensembles, dont je reconnais les qualités (les Berg, mais trop agressifs pour moi, les hagen, mais trop acides, les Emerson, mais trop modernes, le quartetto italiano, à la limite, car la ligne stylistique se rapproche), mais rien n'y fait. Je ne peux écouter que les Amadeus.Formé en 1947 peu après la guerre dans des circonstances particulières (prisonniers dans le même camp pour trois d'entre eux), la longévité de l'ensemble a été exceptionnelle, jusqu'en 1987 et le décès de l'altiste Péter Schindlhof. Le quatuor s'est alors dissout, 'Peter étant irremplaçable'.Le coffret est imposant sur le modèle des karajan, 70 cd (!!!) dont plusieurs versions de certains quatuors. Il y a notamment une intégrale des quatuors de beethoven, de mozart, de larges pans du répertoire de brahms, haydn et schubert. Le répertoire est essentiellement classique, même si un tout petit peu de moderne (Britten) et d'original (Smetana, Bruckner, Verdi) est présent. Mais les amateurs de bartok par exemple resteront sur leur faim.Star system best seller de dg des années 60 comme Karajan et Karl Richter, les Amadeus sont depuis un peu laissés de côté assez injustement. Leur style est un peu passé de mode pour certains (pas mal d'inédits dans cette réédition par ailleurs), très viennois (d'où le nom de l'ensemble) : les premiers enregistrements sont beaucoup plus osés que les stéréo, qui se classifient de plus en plus avec le temps (avec une certaine karajanisation des Tempi et un premier violon, celui de Brainin, devenant de plus en plus présent et dominant, avec une impression de mini concertos pour violon sur la fin diront les plus mauvaises langues...). L'ensemble s'appelait d'ailleurs le Brainin Quartet à ses tous débuts!!!Mais en dehors de ces quelques réserves, un peu forcées et exagérées, les Amadeus, c'est toujours la constance dans l'excellence, c'est toujours parfaitement interprété, compris, retenu, avec des cordes amples, pas 'crin crin', et des accompagnateurs guest star (Gilels, Eschenbach...). Dg de la grande période, les prises de son sont superbes, avec des pochettes élégantes artistiquement (les interprètes sont très peu en couverture, contrairement à une Argerich par exemple...)Les pochettes avec reproduction originale sont vernies comme les karajan, livret épais avec plein de photos, un mot de Martin Lovett (le violoncelliste, seul survivant, 90 ans)...La programmation est la suivante:Beethoven:String Quartets Nos. 1-16 (complete, inc. Grosse Fuge)recorded 1959-1963Piano Sonata arrangement Op. 14 No. 1 Hess 34String Quintet in C major, Op. 29Piano Quartets (3), WoO 36Christoph Eschenbach (piano)String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 'Rasumovsky No. 3'Live Recording from the Wigmore Hall 1983String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 'Rasumovsky No. 3'Recorded 1987String Quartet No. 10 in E flat major, Op. 74 'Harp'Recorded 1987String Quartet No. 12 in E flat major, Op. 127Recorded 1978String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131Recorded 1981String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132Recorded 1980String Quartet No. 16 in F major, Op. 135Recorded 1977String Quartet No. 13 in B flat major, Op. 130Recorded 1980Grosse Fuge in B flat major, Op. 133Recorded 1977String Quartet No. 5 in A major, Op. 18 No. 5Brahms:String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51 No. 1Recorded 1951String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51 No. 2Recorded 1955String Quartet No. 3 in B flat major, Op. 67Recorded 1957String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51 No. 1Recorded 1959String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51 No. 2Recorded 1959String Quartet No. 3 in B flat major, Op. 67Recorded 1960Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34Recorded 1968Christoph Eschenbach (piano)String Quintet No. 1 in F major, Op. 88Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 111Cecil Aronowitz (viola)Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25Emil Gilels (piano)Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115Karl Leister (clarinet)String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 18Cecil Aronowitz (viola), William Pleeth (cello)String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36Cecil Aronowitz (viola), William Pleeth (cello)Bridge:Phantasy in F sharp minor for piano quartetBenjamin Britten (piano)Britten:String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94Live from the Wigmore Hall -35th Anniversary RecitalBruckner:String Quintet in F majorCecil Aronowitz (viola)Dvorak:String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 'American'Recorded 1959String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 'American'Recorded 1977Fricker:String Quartet No. 2 Op. 20Haydn:String Quartet, Op. 51 'Seven Last Words'Recorded 1951String Quartet, Op. 54 No. 1 in G majorRecorded 1957String Quartet, Op. 54 No. 2 in C majorRecorded 1954String Quartet, Op. 64 No. 3 in B flat majorRecorded 1957String Quartet, Op. 74 No. 1 in C majorRecorded 1957String Quartet, Op. 77 No. 1 in G majorRecorded 1956String Quartet, Op. 103 in D minorRecorded 1951String Quartet, Op. 76 No. 2 in D minor 'Fifths'Live Recording from the Wigmore Hall 1983String Quartet, Op. 51 'Seven Last Words'Recorded 1971String Quartet, Op. 54 No. 1 in G majorString Quartet, Op. 54 No. 2 in C majorString Quartet, Op. 54 No. 3 in E majorString Quartet, Op. 55 No. 1 in A majorString Quartet, Op. 55 No. 2 in F minor 'The Razor'String Quartet, Op. 55 No. 3 in B majorString Quartets, Op. 64 Nos. 1-6 (complete)String Quartet, Op. 71 No. 1 in B flat majorString Quartet, Op. 71 No. 2 in D majorString Quartet, Op. 71 No. 3 in E flat majorString Quartet, Op. 74 No. 1 in C majorString Quartet, Op. 74 No. 2 in F majorString Quartet, Op. 74 No. 3 in G minor 'The Rider'String Quartets, Op. 76 Nos. 1-6 (complete)String Quartet, Op. 77 No. 1 in G majorString Quartet, Op. 77 No. 2 in F majorString Quartet, Op. 103 in D minorString Quartet, Op. 76 No. 3 in C major 'Emperor'MacMillan, E:String Quartet in C minorFirst Release on CDTwo Sketches based on French Canadian AirsFirst Release on CDMendelssohn:Four pieces for String Quartet, Op. 81Recorded 1955Mozart:String Quartet No. 17 in B flat major, K458 'The Hunt'Recorded 1951String Quartet No. 16 in E flat, K428Recorded 1951String Quartet No. 23 in F Major, K590 'Prussian No. 3'Recorded 1951String Quartet No. 18 in A Major, K464 'Drum'Recorded 1951String Quartet No. 19 in C major, K465 'Dissonance'Recorded 1954String Quartet No. 21 in D major, K575 'Prussian No. 1'Recorded 1954String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K421Recorded 1953String Quartet No. 20 in D major, K499 'Hoffmeister'Recorded 1955String Quartet No. 22 in B flat major, K589 'Prussian No. 2'Recorded 1955String Quintet No. 3 in C major, K515Recorded 1953Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quintet No. 6 in E flat major, K614Recorded 1957Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quintet No. 4 in G minor, K516Recorded 1951Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quintet No. 5 in D major, K593Recorded 1957Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quartet No. 16 in E flat, K428Recorded 1957String Quartet No. 23 in F Major, K590 'Prussian No. 3'Recorded 1957String Quintet No. 4 in G minor, K516Recorded 1957Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quartet No. 17 in B flat major, K458 'The Hunt'Recorded 1956String Quartet No. 17 in B flat major, K458 'The Hunt'String Quartets (Complete)Recorded 1963-76String Quintet No. 2 in C minor, K406Recorded 1968Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quintet No. 3 in C major, K515Recorded 1967Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quintet No. 5 in D major, K593Recorded 1968Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quintet No. 1 in B flat major, K174Recorded 1974Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quintet No. 4 in G minor, K516Recorded 1969Cecil Aronowitz (viola)String Quintet No. 6 in E flat major, K614Recorded 1968Cecil Aronowitz (viola)Flute Quartets Nos. 1-4 (complete)Andreas Brau (flute)Oboe Quartet in F major, K370Lothar Koch (oboe)Horn Quintet in E flat, K407Gerd Seiffert (horn)Clarinet Quintet in A major, K581Gervase de Peyer (clarinet)Divertimento in E flat major, K563Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K478Walter Klein (piano)Piano Quartet No. 2 in E flat major, K493Walter Klein (piano)Serenade No. 13 in G major, K525 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik'Ein musikalischer Spass K522Adagio & Fugue in C minor for Strings, K546Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K478Clifford Curzon (piano)Piano Quartet No. 2 in E flat major, K493Clifford Curzon (piano)Schubert:String Quartet No. 10 in E flat major, D87Recorded 1955String Quartet No. 8 in B flat major, D112Recorded 1955String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D804 'Rosamunde'Recorded 1954String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D887Recorded 1951String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D810 'Death and the Maiden'Recorded 1953String Quartet No. 12 in C minor (fragment), D703 ‘Quartettsatz'Recorded 1951String Quartet No. 10 in E flat major, D87Recorded 1980String Quartet No. 8 in B flat major, D112Recorded 1980String Quartet No. 9 in G minor, D173Recorded 1966String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D804 'Rosamunde'String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D887String Quartet No. 12 in C minor (fragment), D703 ‘Quartettsatz'Piano Quintet in A major, D667 'The Trout'Emil Gilels (piano)String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D810 'Death and the Maiden'Recorded 1959String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D810 'Death and the Maiden'Recorded 1981String Quintet in C major, D956William Pleeth (cello)String Quintet in C major, D956Robert Cohen (cello)Smetana:String Quartet No. 1 in E minor 'From My Life'Tchaikovsky:String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11Verdi:String Quartet in E minor

I’m not reviewing these actual performances, they are perfect examples of this ensemble’s fine artistry, if you want to hear before you buy then numerous examples of their style of performance can be found online via YouTube or Spotify etc etc & I would direct you there to see if you like them (I am a fan!), but surely most collectors own at least one Amadeus Quartet recording in their collection already?!...What we get here is exactly what it says on the box (which for your shelving space is 20x20x15cms high).70 cds in pretty cardboard sleeves with original covers (a little awkward to remove the CD) & contents/timing on back,a book which has a couple of interesting essays & lists the individual CDs (incl recording dates) has some nice photos + composer index (with cross reference to which CDs certain works can be found,& a couple of facsimiles of recording sessions.The important information to know about this large set is that as far as I know (& I’ve been collecting Amadeus Quartet recordings for years, since I was a child & later on fortunate to study the art of quartet playing with the members!) you do get the complete recordings this ensemble made for DG Westminster & Decca, a few not issued on CD before. There were a few early recordings made only for what most people know as EMI, they are NOT included here!All the masterings as far as I could tell from comparisons I made are those of the latest DG issues, so don’t be expecting any revelations with regard to new masterings! It must be said there was or is nothing wrong with the sound or production of recordings anyway! They date from late 1940s to early digital 1980s. There are a number of repeated works (Mozart’s ‘Hunt Quartet’ appears 4 times recorded between 1951-82 for example) but it’s interesting to compare...all are good.It’s a great shame they couldn’t have found space for a few outtakes or alternative takes for these famous recordings from the original sessions, it would have been interesting to see how or even IF they varied their approach on the daily approach (of course we can hear they did change over time from examples from the various repeated works in this box). There are are a couple of novelties at the end where the members fool around playing each others instruments (the 1st violin playing the cello for eg!) & they SING a little Austrian ditty! Something more could surely have been found which would not have dented their fame (a recording of a rehearsal maybe?).Anyway what matters is the quality of the music making & the care DG took to capture it, all encapsulated in this lovely set which although I have known these recordings for years, as I mentioned before, I am enjoying playing through them again...beautiful!