BaL 31.03.12 - Schubert's String Quartet No 14 "Death and the Maiden"

[euthynicus]

A bizarre choice, and a somewhat careless BaL, with a lot of telling and not enough showing. He used 'sentimental' throughout as a dirty word, when sentiment is exactly what is needed in playing Schubert. Given how scrappy that Amadeus recording is, I thought it betrayed a degree of false sentiment on MD's part to choose it. Didn't the Belceas sound terrific?

[Barbirollians]

A bizarre choice, and a somewhat careless BaL, with a lot of telling and not enough showing. He used 'sentimental' throughout as a dirty word, when sentiment is exactly what is needed in playing Schubert. Given how scrappy that Amadeus recording is, I thought it betrayed a degree of false sentiment on MD's part to choose it. Didn't the Belceas sound terrific?

The Amadeus - about the last I would choose ! Probably the most overrated quartet in history .

[DracoM]

ON what we heard, and their recent R3 concerts. the Belcea sound athletic, intelligent and smack on their game. Agreed.

And MD's choices were maybe just a bit predictable and 'safe pair of hands choices that won't get me into trouble'?

But The Lindsays have the kind of guts I like in my Schubert.

[makropulos]

The Amadeus - about the last I would choose ! Probably the most overrated quartet in history .

Alas, my experiences of hearing them live and on record is the same as yours...I never really "got" the Amadeus.

I love the Belcea performance - apart from one or two vintage versions (notably the original Juilliard record) and the Mosaiques for a terrific HIP view, it's probably my favourite.

[Barbirollians]

How did the Quartetto Italiano get on ? Were they even mentioned ?

[Don Petter]

How did the Quartetto Italiano get on ? Were they even mentioned ?

I don't think so - or the Juilliard.

[Barbirollians]

I don't think so - or the Juilliard.

[martin_opera]

I don't think so - or the Juilliard.

Italian Quartet were mentioned (very swiftly then dismissed). On the subject of access to the recording - am not sure why the CD review web-site lists the Amadeus version as unavailable when it's on itunes for £5.49. Not sure I'll be buying it though. I like my recordings of the Leipziger String Quartet and the Lindsays.

[aeolium]

Italian Quartet were mentioned (very swiftly then dismissed).

I have the Quartetto Italiano version and think it very good, though surpassed by their recording of the last quartet D887 (which was also casually dismissed in the BaL of that recently). I didn't hear this BaL - which were the eventual 'winners'?

[verismissimo]

The second Amadeus and the Busch.