Alban Berg Quartet Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23 | Alban Berg Quartet, Wolfgang Amadeus...

Alban Berg Quartet Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23 | Alban Berg Quartet, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Doesn't get any better than this.

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Alban Berg Quartet...

	Alban Berg Quartet Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23 Alban Berg Quartet, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Warner Music France, 2002 average customer review:based on 7 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Before Signing with EMI and Recording all of Mozart String Quartets at Least Once and Often Twice, the Alban Berg Quartet Recorded Nearly Half of them First for Teldec and Many Regard them Still as their Freshest and Most Vital Performances. This Four CD Budget Box is an Outstanding Bargain and all Unfamiliar with their Earlier Performances and who Simply Treasure These Quartets Are Strongly Encouraged to Give this Set a Listen.

A bargain - and perfectg ensemble

The Alban Berg Quartet are legendary and these CD's contain some of their best work. They seem like one instrument and it is difficult to imagine a closer ensemble.

Particularly affecting are the slower movements, where Mozart's sublime music is allowed time to breathe and expand as it should.

BUY THESE DISCS AND YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

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Doesn't get any better than this.

I am assuming if you are reading this, I don't really have to say anything technical about Mozart or these GREAT late string quartets.
I am only writing this review to let you know...
For anyone who is disappointed with the performance and sound quality of The Berg Quartet's EMI Mozart collection of these same quartets, this is a horse of a different color.
Recorded in the early 90s for Teldec before the Berg's signed with EMI, These performances are sublime.
You would not belive this is the same group that made those horrid EMI records.
This is THE Bergs we all know and love and nobody before or since has made Mozart's string quartets sound this good.
Perfect intonation, TONE, blend, dynamics and yes, PASSION.
I've had many collections of these works and this leads the field. BY FAR.
THIS ONE HAS IT ALL....
And the Teldec sound stage is the cleanest and crystal clear you'll ever hear.
With wonderful front to back depth and air around every note.
Demonstration sound with great imaging and transparency.
You can "literally" step inside this recording. Well you know what I mean.
It really doesn't get any better than this.

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an outstanding survey of the best of Mozart's quartets

Some may argue that everything Mozart wrote was inspired, but just not equally inspired; & this seems especially true of his quartets. His mature quartets are much stronger than his earlier ones, just as his later symphonies are much more developed than those he wrote earlier on. Nevertheless, those who want a complete set of the Mozart quartets might want to investigate the Talich's set on Calliope. It comes highly recommended by a number of critics (Grammophone, Penguin Guide, Classics Today etc) & was also awarded the Grand Prix du Disque & the Diapasson d'Or.

This set of later Mozart quartets (#14-23) by the Alban Berg Quartett is an outstanding way to go for those who want to focus on the most interesting works. Other reviewers have pointed out the ABQ's merits, however, to correct a minor error in an Amazon review here, these Teldec recordings were not made in the 1990's but instead date from 1976-79. The sound is excellent - I found the Tallich Quartet's recordings, which date from 1984-1993, unnaturally subdued by comparison.

I own the both the ABQ & the Tallich sets & can say that had I bought this ABQ set first, I never would have purchased the complete Tallich set. As it turns out, I rarely listen to the early works & the compressed sound is a negative.

Those who are looking for the later Mozart quartets, of which there is no shortage of recordings, will be very satisfied with this set.

Highly recommended!

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Simply Superb!

I think ABQ are simply the best period. I have been mesmorized by their playing on Beethoven's String Quartets and this Mozart's Later Quartets!
Just beautiful playing-like one instrument in execution and yet separate too. The notes become a caress, a breeze, a quake, a collage of sound. ABQ consistantly serve up a feast for the ears and mind. It's too bad this quartet is disbanding in July of 2008. Thank goodness they have left listeners with many recordings to enjoy. This is a worthy addition to your music collection - superb playing and pristine recording.

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Terrific recordings