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Mozart: String Quartets 14 & 17 - Hagen Quartett

Mozart: String Quartets 14 & 17 - Hagen Quartett

Myrios  MYR017

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Chamber


Mozart: String Quartets 14 & 17

Hagen Quartett

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Review by Adrian Quanjer - December 14, 2015

In super audio, Mozart’s string quartets have, so far, not been served like those of Haydn and Beethoven. And having a closer look at what is available right now, one must admit that most have the disadvantage of being either expensive or hard to come by (Quartetto Classico), remastered (Alban Berg Quartet), part of a compilation, or incomplete (Praga Digitals: only Vol. 1 with three of the six “Haydn” Quartets has been published, without any sign of a follow-up). It is, therefore, much to be welcomed that Myrios seems to be willing to fill the gap.

Was the first Mozart Super Audio recording (KV 428, No. 16) part of a 30th-anniversary celebration disk, and squeezed in between two Beethoven quartets, this new disk is entirely devoted to Mozart, giving two more of the “Haydn” Quartets, including the familiar “Hunt”.

For comparison, I lined up the Prazak Quartet on Praga Digitals and Quatuor Mosaïques (Astrée, RBCD), which has always been my favourite for their intuitive and sensitive play. The Hagens left the DG stables 5 years ago and I hadn’t heard them play for a long time. So I was eager to rediscover them. The result is remarkable in more than one way.

From what I remember, I found that the Hagens now have further developed in style and precision. Maybe the best way to describe them in their own language is: ‘Vollblut Fachleute’ (thoroughbred craftsmen); not just for playing very well (other string quartets can do this, too), but having something magical around them, taking the listener by the hand, or better even, lifting him or her up into a cloud of musical delight.

Another remarkable element is their sound: Since 2013 they play the so-called ‘Paganini Quartet’, a set of Stradivari on loan from the Nippon Foundation, allowing their combined sound to blend to perfection.

During my listening tests it became furthermore apparent, at least as far as their approach to Mozart is concerned, that they have ably added a romantic lilt to the score, which purists may question, but which I particularly liked in that it enabled them to shed a fresh and personalized character on these familiar quartets. Listen to KV 387 (No. 14) and you will be carried away, right from the start, into a delicate and elegant world of spontaneity and refined musicality. The final movement is light, shiny, and sheer listening pleasure.

‘The Hunt’ (KV485, no. 17) is probably the best known and consequently the most played, and many versions battle for being ‘the best’. I do not pretend that the Hagens are better than anyone else, all formats considered, but they do give this quartet a new lease of life, firmly painted and yet with filigreed textures. Omitting a number of interesting details in order to keep things here within reasonable limits, suffice it to say that they play with little and judicially applied vibrato, sometimes using portamento (Adagio) in an attractive and, dare I say, surprising manner.

As I suggested above, these four musicians (one of them -Rainer Schmidt- not belonging to the Hagen family, but having indirectly succeeded Angelika Hagen in 1987) play together as one. But that is not so special. Others do that as well. What I think is so unique about them is that they do not play like a ‘well-oiled machine’; the human factor is always and prominently present, one can, as it were, sense that they keep looking at one another and thus inspiring one another, too.

And what about the comparison with the two other versions? Well, I quickly dropped Praga Digitals as having so little in common with this newcomer that a comparison would have turned out a purely pro-forma affair and thus not very practical exercise. The Quatuor Mosaïques, however, remain, and not just for sentimental reasons, on top of my non-‘hi-res’ list, be it that they approach Mozart from a more classical angle with their collection of ‘instruments d’époque’.

So, what’s the final call? Taking artistic and technical talent, plus the excellence in sound engineering together, I cannot think of any better Mozart than here on offer, and one can only hope that more of the same will follow. Warmly recommended.

Blangy le Château,
Normandy, France

Copyright © 2015 Adrian Quanjer and HRAudio.net

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Comments (8)
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Comment by Dominique MAGNIER - December 15, 2015 (1 of 8)

Do you think the 4 missing quartets will be released by Hagen Quartet in a near future ? Thanks

Comment by Adrian Quanjer - December 15, 2015 (2 of 8)

I don't know, but I do hope so. I've passed it on to Stephan Cahen

Comment by Stephan Cahen - December 15, 2015 (3 of 8)

Hello Dominique,

thanks for your interest, but we won't record the other three quartets of this group any soon, I guess (we already have recorded the E flat major on MYR006). There's so much more to discover/record in quartet literature ;-)

Comment by fausto kantiano - December 18, 2015 (4 of 8)

Dear Stephan,
Do you already have a release date for the Hagen/Gerstein Brahms disc? Looking very much forward to it. There can't be enough Brahms on SACD (there has been a discussion on SA-CD.net previously about the lack of new recordings of the two Brahms piano concertos on SACD; if only Gerstein&Deutsches SO Berlin could record these!)

Incidentally, I've got tickets for the Hagen's forthcoming performance of the Schubert & Shostakovich strings quartets here in Munich. Is a recording of these works planned?

Thanks

Comment by Stephan Cahen - January 2, 2016 (5 of 8)

Dear Fausto,

thank you very much for your kind words.
The Brahms disc of the Hagen Quartett and Kirill Gerstein has been postponed due to a couple of reasons and will most likely be released in quarter 4/2016 or 1/2017. As for the next project to record, we have already discussed some options, of which Schubert/Shostakovich would be only one. I agree that this combination on a recording would fit the Hagen's profile like a glove. We'll see ;-)

Recording the Brahms piano concertos is surely one thing Kirill Gerstein and I want to do sometime, but I can tell you that the next three solo projects, of which one has already been recorded and currently is in the process of postproduction, will not include these works.

I will keep you posted here, or with a newsletter (in case you have subscribed at www.myriosmusic.com ) or just have a regular look on our new website and/or on facebook. Many options ;-)

Have a good start in 2016 everyone - thanks for your all support!

Best wishes, Stephan Cahen

Comment by fausto kantiano - January 5, 2016 (6 of 8)

Dear Stephan,
many thanks for your reply. Would indeed be wonderful if the Schubert #15+Shostakovich #15 would be recorded at some point. And I'm very pleased to hear (as surely others here will too) that a Brahms piano concertos is on the cards.
At any rate, certainly looking forward to more Myrios recordings in 2016 and beyond! Meanwhile, we have the excellent Mozart disc to enjoy. I saw the usual pile of the Hagen disc on the "recent recordings" display shelf here at Ludwig Beck--good to see that bricks-and-mortar shops are still carrying SACD!

all best

Comment by Adrian Quanjer - February 28, 2017 (7 of 8)

Dear Stephan,
It's never too late for congrats. Winning a 2016 'Echo Klassik' for this Mozart album is more than merited. Look forward to their Brahms disk.

Comment by John Huizinga - May 22, 2017 (8 of 8)

The Hagens are exceptional (possibly unique) in playing with essentially the same members for 30+ years and at the same time continuing to evolve creatively. Their latest discs for Myrios reveal this ongoing quest in the same repertoire that they have played throughout their career. It is much to be regretted that a completion of the 'Haydn' quartets is not envisioned.