Search - Haydn, Tokyo String Quartet :: String Quartets Opus 76

Superb String Quartets

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 03/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When the composer who penned an incredible 105 symphonies writes a string quartet, of course it will be substantial. It wasn't enough for Haydn's String Quartets, Op. 76 to be one quartet. No, it had to be six quartets wrapped up into one, combining for more than two hours of music. But quantity means nothing without quality, and these string quartets are some of best ever written. Throw in a superb performance by one of the best chamber groups of the last half of the twentieth century, the Tokyo String Quartet, and you truly have an essential set."

Sumptuous Music!

Curtis Grindahl | San Anselmo, California USA | 12/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I bought my first CD player a year ago I decided to build a classical CD collection. Although I've loved classical music all my life, I'm neither educated nor particularly knowledgeable on the subject. (I've always known what I liked even if I didn't know who wrote it or who performed it.) I loved Beethoven and many years ago purchased his symphonies and piano concerti on LPs, but I really didn't have a feeling for chamber music. I purchased this particular CD set because the price was right but more importantly because a review I'd read suggested this music might be worth hearing. I now own TWO sets of these quartets. The Tokyo rendition resides on the CD changer in my car and the Kodaly rendition frequently revisits the CD carousel in my home. I've listened to quite a bit of chamber music over the last year, most of it purchased from Amazon[.com] and would say without hesitation that I enjoy listening to string quartets more than anything else. I'm in awe of what Haydn wrote, and am especially fond of the Op. 76 quartets, which are the last quartets Haydn completed during his life. This CD set is very fine. The music never fails to move me. I readily give the Tokyo String Quartet performance five stars and would do the same for Kodaly Quartet from Hungary. If you haven't listened to their performances of Haydn quartets, you owe it to yourself to check out their Naxos discs. Haydn rocks!"

Excellent performances of Excellent Music

Wade Pickering | Ohio, United States | 12/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've owned this set for about six years and I never grow tired of hearing these performances. They convey, I think, the composer's intentions flawlessly and contain all of the liveliness, optimism and energy which was Haydn's trademark. The textures and balancing seem to me to be perfect and the Tokyo String Quartet's sound and finish is impeccable. I can't imagine these works being performed any better. Most enjoyable. I highly recommend!"