Search - Juan Crisostomo Arriaga :: Arriaga: Complete String Quartets

An Absolute Wonder. BUY THIS ALBUM!

Harley Cardinal | Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada | 09/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The three string quartets of Juan Crisostomo de Arriaga (1806-1826) are astonishing pieces, and even more so when you consider that he was only 18 when he wrote them. The quality of his inspiration is the equal of even a Haydn or Mozart (but Arriaga does not imitate; he has his own unique, glorious voice), and both the development of his motifs and the assuredness of his part-writing are as impressive as those two masters of the string quartet form. In fact, Arriaga's teacher at the Paris Conservatoire once remarked that "It is impossible to find anything more original, or purer or more correctly written [than these quartets]", and I would tend to agree. Sample the felicity of the opening of the 2nd quartet's first movement, or the Mozartian melancholy of the 1st quartet minuet (but not the Chilingirian's version - blech!). Arriaga also had that incredible sense of taste that leads great composers to take melodies where us mere mortals couldn't dream. Not only is the music a gem, but the interpretation is superlative. The Voces quartet is a fine ensemble playing on modern instruments, and have a warm, natural lyricism (though not at the expense of technical precision, which they have in spades). I've heard bits of other interpretations, and though I can't judge a whole from the part, other ensembles seem to have drained the lifeblood from these works (did somebody say...Chilingirian!). Oh, and I almost forgot that this version has great MD&G sound too: the players aren't balanced too forward and each instrument is easily audible. So if you are interested in what else was going on in chamber music during Beethoven's time, enjoy discovering unjustly forgotten geniuses (would that people could've forgotten that Mendelssohn chap instead), and want to hear some superbly played, well-recorded string quartets, then for the love of all things holy, do not pass over this album. It is one of my very favorite records, along with my Vegh Beethoven and Tatrai Haydn, and I strongly suggest that you BUY IT NOW!"

Pure and sweet

Jonathan Lehan | 03/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The quartets of Arriaga are pleasing to some, but not preferred by others. I've heard friends say that the quartets lack depth and that the music is predictable and overly simplistic. But I've personally enjoyed all the quartets for many years, and performed all three with positive audience response. In fact, we once performed the first and third on the same program, pairing them with early and later quartets of Mozart. Most, if not all of the audience, had never heard Arriaga before, and the concert was both entertaining and educational for both audience and performers. We've also done the theme and variations from the second quartet as an encore over the years, primarily at the urging of the viola player, and, yes, that's me. If you haven't heard this movement, check it out and find out why.



This recording is outstanding. The balance of the instruments is very good and all parts are readily recognized. This is very important in Arriaga's music as often one part might explode with great vigor and tend to overshadow an intricate underpining. The sensitivity and balanced ensemble makes listening to this recording a great delight.



I did have one diappointment with the CD. The disc plays well when played directly in my CD players, including the Pioneer 6-CD changer in my car. But the last movement of the first quartet refuses to properly load into the memory of my Bose Lifestyle 4800 system. This is the only glitch I've ever had with the Bose unit. Yet the disc plays perfectly when loaded individually into the CD tray. My guess is that there is some interference on the disc from reproduction methods that is simply interfering with the recording into the Bose memory. A minor point, not worth returning the disc over, as the disc is otherwise ok, but worth mentioning here. Otherwise, this is a wonderful addition to your quartet library."