SearchsearchUseruser

Beethoven: String Quartets 10 & 11 - Pražák Quartet

Beethoven: String Quartets 10 & 11 - Pražák Quartet

Praga Digitals  PRD/DSD 250 199

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Chamber


Beethoven: String Quartet "Harp" Op. 74, "Serioso" Op. 95

Pražák Quartet


A diptych (1809-1810) of Goethean mood, the opus 74 with its heroic tone contemporary with the "Emperor" piano concerto, the opus 95 with its final deriving its triumph willpower from Egmont ouverture, while the general surroundings are rather bitter. The Pražák give without consideration the moments of heartache as those of tenderness, of vehemence as of melancholy, eventually of serenity when "a divine hand lays on peace over a burning forehead".

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below.
As an Amazon Associate HRAudio.net earns from qualifying purchases.

bol.com
 
jpc
 

Add to your wish list | library

 

7 of 7 recommend this, would you recommend it?  yes | no

All
show
Recording
show
hide
DSD recording
Reviews (1)
show
hide

Review by John Broggio - March 6, 2006

Here are the two (named) quartets that are usually grouped with the middle and late quartets but here presented logically, if not generously, as a coupling. The "Harp" quartet (Op.74) is very well played with a real sense of élan to the Pražák's presentation of the work. Whereas in the Op.18 quartets disc (Beethoven: String Quartets 1, 4 & 5 - Pražák Quartet) the playing is too emphatic on points of accents to an extent where they disturb the musical lines, here the balance between point making and letting the music flow is well done. In Op.95 ("Serioso"), the Pražák play, rightly, with a real sense of abandon in the opening movement and the finale in lesser hands would have been described as hectic but there is just enough control maintained to feel that the ending is euphoric. These are arguably the two finest performances from the, sadly inconsistent, complete cycle (Beethoven: String Quartets 1-16 - Pražák Quartet).

The recording is well done, with a nice amount of ambience captured - recommended as the best sample of their inconsistent cycle.

Copyright © 2006 John Broggio and HRAudio.net

Performance:

Sonics (Stereo):

Sonics (Multichannel):

stars stars stars